Four persons were on Monday charged by the Nigeria Police Force before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos, for pipeline vandalism.
The accused persons, Jigo Jiperende (31), Timi Koro (29), Johnbosco Igbhofose (26), and Peter Opidi (28) are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on the alleged offence.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It would be recalled that six accused persons had earlier in November 2012, been arraigned on the same charge.
They are; Joel Inerepamu (25), Rueben Oluwole (60), John Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22), and Olisa Saheed (25). They had pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the prosecutor Mr Justin Enang informed the court that due to the addition, he had filed an amended charge, reflecting the names of the new accused persons.
Justice Idris therefore ordered that all 10 defendants be arraigned on the amended charge.
They all pleaded not guilty.
The judge however ordered them to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to May 17 for trial.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence on September 5, 2012 at Arepo, Ogun State.
He said they had conspired at about 6pm, to vandalise an oil pipeline located in the vicinity, and scooped out large quantities of petroleum for illegal sale.
He further alleged that on sighting engineers from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), assigned for maintenance of pipelines in the area, the accused, who were armed with guns, opened fire.
He alleged that they shot and killed three of the engineers.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravenes the provisions of 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 contravenes the provisions of Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Punishment for the offence of murder is the death penalty.
