The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the probe of ten suspected illegal dealers in petroleum products.
The EFCC made this known on Monday following the arrest of the suspects on board a ship loaded with 100 metric tonnes of petroleum products without a valid licence.
The EFCC in a statement on its X handle said , the ten suspects were arrested on board MT Queen Hansal Ship and handed over to the Command by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State.
While handing over the arrested suspects and exhibits to the EFCC, Captain Uche Aneke said the Navy will continue to perform its duty and ensure that Akwa Ibom and its environment remain unfavourable for oil thieves.
“The vessel MT Queen Hansal was involved in suspicious activities along Exxol Mobil oil field at position Lat 04’12’ 956 N, Long 007’40’ 186 ‘E’ by switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) such that the Nigerian Navy, in its task, arrested the ship, so the vessel and the 10 crew members were arrested by NNS OJI on December 28, 2023, during inspection and brought to base on December 30, 2023”, said Aneke.
Receiving the ten suspects and the products on behalf of the EFCC, Deputy Superintendent of the commission, DSE Ayuba Zira, thanked the Navy for a job well done.
Zira also gave the assurance that a thorough investigation would be conducted and the culpable suspects would be prosecuted accordingly.
“We want to assure the public that the EFCC is going to investigate this conclusively, and everyone found culpable will face justice,” he said.
Zira added that the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC will continue to work with the Navy to sanitize Nigeria’s oil industry and waterways.
