The police on Wednesday re-arraigned 11 fishermen at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged pipeline vandalism and theft of petroleum products.
Prosecution counsel, Mr. Justin Enang said the accused persons were arrested on December 21, 2012 for allegedly engaging in unlawful extraction of petrol.
About 220 drums of petrol allegedly obtained from a vandalised pipeline for sale were recovered from them, the police said.
Enang said the product was valued at N5.3 million, adding that the alleged offence contravenes sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004 and Section 7(a), (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.
The accused persons are – Sidi Egbayelo (31), Sunday Shadrach (41), Edem Okon (32), Godwin Kofa (30), Rosemon Neito (32), Ejona Kpamkpam (25), Moses Victor (30), Chris Sunday (31), Peter Gay (23), Remo Uchugwu (25) and Mike Sabato (31).
They were first arraigned on February 7, 2013 before Justice Musa Kurya on a four-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism, stealing, and unlawful possession of petroleum products.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N2 million each with two sureties in like sum.
Trial had commenced before Justice Kurya was transferred to another division. The case was re-assigned to Justice Rabiu Shagari, who ruled that the defendants could continue on bail.
He adjourned till June 13 for trial.