5 December 2011, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – A 38-year-old driver, Ibrahim Oladejo today appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court for being in possession of substances suspected to be stolen black-oil.
The accused was arrested on September 28 along Lapia Road in Niger, by the anti-Pipeline Vandalism Police Squad.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Sani Yakubu, told the court that the accused was caught with about 33,000 litres of product reasonably believed to be crude oil stolen from a vandalised PPMC pipeline.
He said the accused, who was driving an oil tanker with registration number XR631PE could not give the police a satisfactory explanation of what he was carrying when interrogated.
Yakubu said the accused was charged with being in possession of black oil suspected to have been stolen, which contravened section 319A of the Penal Code.
When the charges were read out, the accused pleaded not guilty.
Yakubu urged the court to detain the accused pending when investigations into the case would be completed.
He told the court that the liquid had been sent to Kaduna for laboratory analysis and that the result was expected to come in a week time.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Okeagu Azubike, ordered that the accused be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case to Dec. 14, for hearing. (NAN)
