Oil Theft: ARMY HANDS OVER VESSEL, 25 SUSPECTS TO EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 27, 2013 took possession of an alleged illegal oil bunkering vessel, suspected to be trans-loading unspecified quantity of fuel, believed to be Automative Gas Oil (AGO).  The vessel, MT Swordfish, comprising two barges, was confiscated, while three crew members and two staff of Liberty Jetty Elegbata, Marina, Lagos (where the vessel was harboured) and twenty others were arrested.  

They were all handed over by Col H.I. Dasuki of 81 Division, Nigerian Army, to officials of the Commission.
The crew members are: Akume Surprise(Captain); Boglo Babatunde Peter; ThankGod Obozuruike; Korlee Uebari; Francis Eze; Gaius Ike; Peter James;  Hafeez Jalaruru; Olajumoke Sulaiman; Kelvin Ajike; Abdulraham Kareem;  Oluwaseun Owoade; Ifeanyi Lawrence; Alhassan Hoseli; Kennedy Adoge;  Bello Taofik; Ibrahim Ajibade;  Ibrahim Yakubu; Nafiu Useni; Kenneth Osei; Annas Mohammed; Ibrahim Mohammed; Hamisu Saidu; Sulaiman Musa and Umar Mohammed.

Also handed over are six trucks as exhibits  

Col. Dasuki, while handing over the vessel and crew to the Commission said the arrest was made at about 0400hrs on 22 May, 2013, following intelligence report. According to him, the arrest was made by men and officers of “OP MESA” who raided the Liberty Jetty, Marina.

Dasuki urged the Commission to carry out further investigation on the source of the petroleum products and the operations of the vessel.

Receiving the hand-over documents, Mr. Aliyu Aminu, Head, Counter-Terrorism & General Investigations, EFCC Zonal Office, Lagos, assured that the Commission will do its best in investigating the case. A sample of the product was taken by operatives of the Commission for analysis.