By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft has called for tougher laws and the establishment of a special court to prosecute crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals, saying existing legal frameworks are no longer strong enough to deter offenders.
Chairman of the Committee, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where lawmakers and security stakeholders reviewed strategies to curb crude oil theft in the country.
Doguwa said many of the laws currently used to prosecute oil theft are outdated and inherited from the military era.
“We still have old legislations, some dating back to the military era, including military decrees and orders, which are still being applied at various levels,” he said.
“Unless we provide new measures, new laws and a new legal framework, the courts will continue to rely on these obsolete legislations.”
He explained that the committee is working with relevant stakeholders to ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of the crime.
The lawmaker also proposed the creation of a special court to handle crude oil theft cases, arguing that delays in the conventional justice system weaken enforcement.
“We have also recommended… the possibility of establishing a special court for these kinds of crimes because the crimes themselves are special,” Doguwa said.
“If we allow these criminal cases to go through the conventional court system… many of them will remain unresolved while the criminals escape appropriate punishment.”
Backing the call, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said weak punishments have continued to fuel oil theft and sabotage in the sector.
Representing the NSA, Director of Energy Security, Goodluck Ilajufi, said offenders often escape with light sentences despite huge economic losses.
“A judge may sentence someone to five years imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine… That makes a mockery of the entire process,” he said.
“We therefore require amendments to legislation such as the Miscellaneous Offences Act… If these laws are not strengthened, the deterrent effect will remain weak.”
Security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also supported stronger enforcement and improved collaboration to curb crude oil theft and protect national assets.
The committee is expected to continue consultations with stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for tackling oil theft.
