The Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS) has seized a vessel used for oil bunkering and arrested five suspects in Akwa Ibom.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Majid Ibrahim, disclosed this during the handing over of the vessel and suspects to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikot Abasi.
Ibrahim explained that the vessel was seized during an anti illegal oil patrol by the Nigerian Navy along Uta-Ewa Creek on May 18.
“In line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive and the need to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain against all forms of illegalities, the Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee on anti illegal oil patrol arrested MT PREYOR 1 on May 18, 2020 along Uta-Ewa Creek for suspected illegal oil bunkering activities.
“The vessel was laden with unspecified quantity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
“As required by the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure, the suspects, vessel and products are hereby handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution,” Ibrahim said.
The commander said that the command would not relent in it fight against maritime crimes and criminalities.
He warned persons involved in criminal activities within the coastal waters to look for legitimate means of livelihood or relocate as the command would continue to arrest them and hand them over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.
The commander commended the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for providing all the moral and logistics support required to achieve the feat.
He urged the media to sensitise the public on the need to cooperate with the security forces in the fight against all forms of criminalities.
Receiving the vessel, products and the five suspects on behalf of EFCC, Mr Victor Ikang, Head Extractive Industry, Fraud Section, Uyo Zonal office thanked the Navy for the arrest.
He assured that the commission would investigate the case thoroughly to bring all culprits to book.
“I receive the vessel alongside with the suspects. We thank the Nigerian Navy for being a partner in the fight against Economic Crimes.
“We assure the Navy that we will carry out further investigation and make sure that culprits are brought to book,” he said.
Meanwhile, three barges have been seized by the Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt following an anti-bunkering operation.
Capt. Adegoke Ebo, Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, handed over the barges and some petroleum products to the EFCC on Tuesday.
He said at the occasion that the barges, Destiny Bright, Furo I and an unnamed vessel, were illegally transporting unspecified quantity of adulterated diesel and stolen crude oil to unknown destinations before their seizure.
Ebo, however, said naval operatives were unable to make any arrest on board the barges as the operators abandoned them on sighting the navy gunboats.
“The NNS Pathfinder patrol team intercepted and arrested both barge Destiny Bright and another unnamed barge at Cotton Channel waterways, Rivers, on April 19 and April 20 respectively.
“At the time of seizure, Destiny Bright and the unnamed barge, were laden with unspecified quantity of products suspected to be crude oil and illegally refined diesel respectively.
The naval officer said that the third barge, Furo I, was intercepted four years ago on May 3, 2017, on Bile waterways in Rivers on suspicion of alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities.
He said the barge was also transporting unnamed quantity of suspected adulterated diesel when it was impounded by naval operatives during a routine patrol of the creeks.
“The barges had no approvals to transport the petroleum products, and, as such, they were towed to NNS Pathfinder Holding Bays for safe custody and preliminary investigation.
“We have concluded our investigation, and we are here to handover the three barges and petroleum products to EFCC in line with directives from the naval headquarters,” he added.
Ebo said that the EFCC would conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine sources of the petroleum products.
Receiving the barges, Ani Davies, EFCC Head of Extractive Industry and Maritime Crime Section in Port Harcourt, gave an assurance that the commission would conduct speedy investigation to unravel the owners and sources of the products.
“We will also conduct thorough investigation, so that in no distant time, the appropriate action will be taken on whoever that is found culpable of this crime.
“Also, since no suspects were apprehended, the EFCC will obtain an interim forfeiture from the court. Thereafter, the barges and products would be forfeited to the Federal Government,” he said.
