"This Fetches Me a Minimum of N5,400 Per Day" -Woman In Court Over Stolen Petrol
A Nigerian woman, identified as Mojisola Ogunname (54), from Sagamu in Ogun State, has been remanded in prison custody by the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the capital.
The suspect is charged by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, with being a receiver of petroleum products siphoned from vandalised pipeline and illegal dealing in petroleum products.
According to the spokesman of the Command, Kareem Olanrewaju, the woman was arrested over two thousand nine hundred and fifty (2,950) litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) found in her possession, with the product being hidden in her residential apartment.
When asked about how she came about the product, the suspect said she got the supply from various
individuals, but could not ascertain them.
Madam Mojisola Ogunname further disclosed how she has been transacting her odd business: "I do buy 25 litre at #1,400 each and sell at #2000. This gives me a profit of #600 per jerrycan of 25 litres. I often sell more than nine kegs of 25 litres on a daily basis, and this fetches me minimum of #5,400 a day."
She stated that "commercial motorists, motorcyclists and generator users" are her regular customers and "what attracts them most to me is the low price and availability of the product at any time of the day."
When contacted, the Civil Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kareem Olanrewaju, said the woman was a perpetual receiver of stolen products, adding that her arrest is part of Commandant Aboluwoye's strategy to curb vandalism.
He said the arrest of the receiver of vandalised petroleum products will affect its market and thus discourage vandalism of petroleum pipeline.
According to Olanrewaju, "We have decided to hit-hard on vandals from all angles so that it will become so difficult to vandalise and even some of them will be forced out of business. Our boss, Commandant Aboluwoye has given a standing order that any person arrested for vandalism related offences with proof be charged accordingly."
