Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigations into the activities of eight suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The investigations are coming on the heels of the handover of the suspects and a vessel, MV Mother Cabrini, to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny Island on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
SweetCrude Reports in December 2023 had reported that the vessel, MV Mother Cabrini, and her eight crew members were arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Navy, on board the vessel with unquantified amount of Automotive Gas Oil along the Bonny Channel.
The suspects are Tyson Saidi, Emmanuel Memedo, Bamidele Owoeye, Sunday Okenwa, Sanusi Adeola, Kessen Friday, Miebaka Kienka and Emmanuel Adewole.
Handing over the vessel, a representative of Nigerian Navy, FOB Bonny, Lieutenant Commander G.Y Gwaza, said the suspected oil thieves were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with the Naval standard procedure.
Receiving the suspects and the vessel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Itoro Levi, on behalf of the EFCC, assured that thorough and professional investigations would be carried out in the case.
Levi also thanked the Navy for its collaborative efforts with the EFCC.
