The chief magistrate’s court sitting in Port Harcourt, RIvers State, has remanded Mr. Fortune Ifi, a 43 years old man in prison over alleged vandalism and burning of crude oil pipelines belonging to Nigeria Agip Company at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

Ifi and others still at large were charged to court by the director of the State Security Service, DSSS, Rivers State, over conspiracy, vandalism and setting ablaze crude oil pipelines between December 2015 and April 2016, at Okwuzi and Mgbede.

The accused is facing five counts in suit number PMC/821c/16. However, he could not take his plea as the court lacks jurisdiction to trial the matter.

 Part of the charge reads, “That you, Fortune Ifi, and others still at large, sometime between December 2015 and April 2016, did threaten to vandalise and sabotage crude oil pipelines belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) and punishable under Part VI, Section 33 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011. 

“That you, Fortune Ifi, male, adult and others still at large, on or about the 13th day of April, 2015, at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire to commit felony to wit: vandalism and burning of crude oil pipeline belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C 38), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The judge, Chief Magistrate B.M.F. Jamabo, directed that the case file be remitted to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice, while the accused be remanded in the prison custody. The matter was adjourned till June 13, 2016 for the report of compliance.