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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos has commenced an investigation of 13 suspected oil thieves and a vessel, MT SWEET MIRI.
Both the suspects and the vessels were handed over to the commission by the Nigerian Navy NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos State on April 24, 2024.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement issued on Monday, April 29, revealed the identities of the suspects as Abu Smith, Pascal Anyafulu, David Ali, Mba Okpanu, Chukuma Friday Obiazi, Miye Victor and Richard Kofi.
Others are Monday Aidenagbon, Dele Olayemi, Boma Robinson, David George, Onos Edemefe and Suleiman Aremu.
The statement read in part: “The vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on February 27, 2024, by officers of the Nigerian Navy for alleged illegal oil bunkering and automatic identification system infractions.
“The vessel was laden with about 1,322 metric tonnes of substance confirmed to bear the attributes of crude oil without any document permitting her to be in possession of the substance.”
On his part, the Head, Extractive Industry Fraud Section, Moses Awolusi, assured the Navy that the suspects and the exhibits would be subjected to further investigations and prosecution.
Awolusi also hailed the Navy for its collaboration with the EFCC and lauded the working relationship both agencies have had for years.