12 oil thieves, four vessels handed over to EFCC for prosecution

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been handed over 12 suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an un-named barge and two wooden boats for prosecution.

National Daily gathered that they were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, at Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

They were handed over to the EFCC by the Commodore  W. O Kayoda, Commander of NNS PATHFINDER. He said that, the suspected oil thieves were arrested on 6 February, 2017  by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team deployed for Anti-Crude Oil Theft/ Illegal Oil Bunkering operations around Taraba Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They  were arrested  with  one vessel: MV OMISAN 1 and  one wooden boat. The suspects, who were crew members of MV OMISAN 1 and the wooden boat were arrested in the process of trans-shipping an estimated 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil, (AGO), from the wooden boat to MV OMISAN 1.

It was further gathered that on the 7 February 2017, the patrol team also intercepted a barge laden with an estimated 100,000 litres of products suspected to be AGO,  and another wooden boat laden with an estimated 60,000 litres of products suspected  to be illegally refined AGO around Isaka axis. However, no suspect was arrested with the seizures made on 7 February, 2017.

The suspects aboard MV OMISAN 1 are:  Captain Benjamio Igiogio; Engineer Samuel Ogunfemi; Jakpa Eyituoyo; Johnson Dudu; Ogunkalu Taiwo; Toju Oko-Otiuroh;  Desmond  Edafe Unuarhe;  Ibiye Ngiania; Sylvanus Ikorawi J; Ayadi Abiola, Chibueze Nwali and Imeh Brown.

The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.