Oil Theft: Navy apprehends 19 Suspects, 21 Boats
The Nigerian Navy has handed over 19 suspects and two fiber boats laden with petroleum products to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Mr Tony Orilade, the commission ‘s spokesman, said that the suspects were arrested on Aug. 30, 2018, in Lagos and some parts of Ondo State.
According to the statement, the suspects were involved in illegal dealing in petroleum products stolen from an hijacked vessel, MT MAMA ELIZABETH.
“The sum of N3,500,000.00 only suspected to be proceeds from the sale of the illegally acquired products was found on the suspects at the point of arrest,” he said.
Idris Abubakar, an investigator with the EFCC, who received the suspects and the boats on behalf of the commission, assured the Nigerian Navy of diligent investigation and prosecution of the suspects.
He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation was concluded.
Economic Confidential recalls that in December 2018, the Nigerian Navy also handed over four suspects and one vessel allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The acting Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Tony Orilade, in a statement made available to our correspondent, noted that naval officers of the NNS DELTA arrested the suspects, identified as Promise Onate, Emonefe Stanley, Samson Obaje and Peresey Friday, aboard the vessel, MV Enterprise, at Nana Creek Escravos, Delta State, on December 4.
According to Orilade, they were arrested on the suspicion that they were conveying Automotive Gas Oil without valid approval.
Captain P.G. Yilme, who represented the NNS Commander at the handover in Warri, Delta State, was quoted as saying, “After forensic analysis of the product by officials of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the result revealed that the products on board were poorly refined AGO.”
An EFCC operative, Richard Ogberagha, who received the suspects and the vessel, said, “The commission will carry out further investigation and ensure that those found culpable are brought to book.”