17 August 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has seized a an oil bunkering vessel allegedly laden with 300 metric tonnes of illegally refined
Automotive Gas Oil, more popularly known as diesel.
EFCC said in a statement that the vessel, MT Ocean Treasure, together with its eight-member crew and three staff of Vital Shipping Limited, Apapa, owners of the vessel, were handed over to officials of the commission.
The statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, named the arrested crew members as Ayoade Emmanuel, Stephen Bamgbose, Idowu Balogun, King. C. Fred, Michael Ekanem, Olorunwa Omowunmi, Felix Ayenuberu and Suru Lepe.
The statement also listed the three staff of Vital Shipping on board the vessel are Onuoha Ikechukwu, Omodara Emmanuel and Faith Akhahowa.
“A Principal Maritime Safety Officer of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Duniya David, who handed over the vessel and crew on behalf of the Director General of NIMASA, urged the Commission to carry out further investigation on the source of the petroleum product and the operations of the vessel,” the statement said.
“Usman Ladan Baki, who received the document transferring the vessel and crew, assured that the EFCC will do its best in investigating the case,” it added.
A sample of the product according to the statement, was taken by operatives of the Commission for analysis while reports showed that the vessel was first sighted on August 5th, 2012 by NIMASA enforcement team on routine patrol off Escravos.
