A Rivers Oil Chieftain Has Been Arraigned By EFCC For Pipeline Obstruction

The Chairman, Onelga Oil and Gas Well Heads Landlord Families of Rivers State, Chikobi Alali was on Wednesday arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, on a 16 count- charge bordering on conspiracy and tampering with oil pipelines.

Alali, a community leader overseeing the activities of the Nigerian #Agip Oil Company in his neighbourhood, was arrested by men and officers of Operation Delta Safe on 18 March, 2017 in Igbogene, #Yenagoa, #Bayelsa State for tampering with oil pipelines’ well heads and disruption of crude oil flow. He was transferred to the EFCC for further investigations and prosecution.
 

In the course of investigations, he admitted to have conspired with others now at large to tamper with oil pipeline, well heads operated by #NAOC at different times and locations namely; Idu and Mbede both in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State. 

Also, Alale allegedly admitted to the offence in protest against the alleged failure of NAOC in meeting its corporate responsibilities to its host communities. By his actions, the Federal Government reportedly lost sizeable revenue owing to 35,904 barrels of #crude oil (at $50 per barrel) lost in three local government areas. ...
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. ...
 

Justice Omotosho granted the defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira only (N1,000,000) and a surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant, at least not below Grade level 12 who must swear to an affidavit of means to be verified by the Deputy Court Registrar.
 

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to 4 & 5 May, 2017 for trial and ordered that the suspect be remanded in Prison custody.