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Trial Of Alleged Arepo Pipeline Vandals To Resume On Friday

Six vandals alleged to have damaged the petroleum pipeline in Arepo, a suburb of Ikorodu, Lagos State, will resume their trial tomorrow (Friday) at the … Continue reading Trial Of Alleged Arepo Pipeline Vandals To Resume On Friday


Six vandals alleged to have damaged the petroleum pipeline in Arepo, a suburb of Ikorodu, Lagos State, will resume their trial tomorrow (Friday) at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The last proceedings on the 18th of December were stalled by the absence of the prosecutor, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin.

The 6 accused persons on the 5th of September, 2012 at about 6:00 p.m., at Arepo,  allegedly conspired to vandalise an NNPC oil pipeline located in the vicinity and in the process murdered three employees of the NNPC.

They were subsequently arraigned on the 29th of November, 2012, where they all pleaded not guilty to a seven count charge preferred against them by the police.

Among the accused persons is a a 60-year-old community leader, Oluwole Reuben. Presiding Justice Mohammed Idris had ordered that the accused persons were to remain in prison pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Others accused are, Inerepamu Ijebu Joel (25), John Aye Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22) and Saheed Olisa Mudashiru (25).

They had also allegedly killed three employees of the NNPC with a pump action gun while trying to escape with the refined oil scooped from the vandalised pipeline.

The prosecutors say that the offences contravened sections 3(6), 7(a), 7(b), and 17(a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offence of murder also contravened Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Arepo area on Wednesday witnessed another fire outburst resulting from activities of pipeline vandals.