To achieve its full potential as an enabler of national economic and industrial growth, the judiciary must support the efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the oil and gas industry to tackle the twin menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, has said.
Kyari made the call at the National Judges Capacity Building Workshop on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and INVESTIN 234, on Thursday in Abuja.
In a goodwill message he delivered at the workshop, the GCEO stated that the gains of the PIA have severely been undermined by crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He urged the judiciary to consider the creation of a special court to try offences related to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, or grant accelerated hearings to such cases against their perpetrators.
The role of the judiciary, he pointed out, was critical to the success of the efforts of the various security arrangements put in place by the NNPC, the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the industry.
“In particular, is the recommendation that a special court be created to try those offences as they hinge on our survival as a country, and/or for such trials to be conducted under an accelerated hearing process by the issuance of Practice Directions to that effect, with concomitant sanctions to deter would-be offenders,” Kyari stated.
The GCEO also called on the judiciary to accelerate hearing to criminal cases in their courts, through timely determination of the criminal charges and imposing adequate punishments and sanctions on culprits to serve as deterrence to others.
He said NNPC remained committed to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the PIA, adding that “together, we can ensure that the benefits of our natural resources are maximized for the economic and social development of our country”.
Kyari also commended the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola and the organisers of the workshop for extending invitation to him and the opportunity to deliver a goodwill message at the workshop.
