Ten suspected
oil thieves were on Friday May 31, 2013 handed over to the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, by officers of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating
Base, Yenagoa led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command,
Commodore Emmanuel Okechukwu Enemor. The suspects comprising crew members of MV
DALAL were arrested sometimes in March, 2013 for allegedly having onboard
products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas oil (AGO).
Preliminary
investigation, according to Navy, reveal that the vessel and her crew were
operating under the registered name and licence of SOLABSTAR Oil and Gas Limited
and that the captain confessed to having lifted 120,000 litters of illegally
refined AGO at Akassa to be delivered at Kirikiri Jetty in Lagos.
According to
Commodore Enemor, the vessel at the time of arrest did not have Nigerian Ports
Authority bunkering permit, ship log, Naval Headquarters approval and JTF OP
PULO SHIELD Certificate of Registration. Laboratory analysis of the sample of
the product from the vessel also indicated that the AGO is of poor quality.
Commodore Enemor assured the commission that
the Nigerian Navy would provide all necessary assistance to facilitate further investigation
and diligent prosecution of the case.
The suspects
will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
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