Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has sought the technical expertise of the Department of Petroleum Resources, in the disposal of petroleum products and trucks forfeited to the Federal Government by individuals and companies convicted of illegal dealing in petroleum products.
This request was made in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital by EFCC Secretary, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, when he paid an official visit to the Department of Petroleum Resources, Port Harcourt Zone.
Olukoyede said EFCC needed the technical expertise of DPR to sell off petroleum products carried by trucks forfeited to the government, as contained in a final forfeiture order recently granted the anti-graft agency the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
He explained that the forfeiture of the trucks and products was contained in an order granted by Justice I. M Sani of the Port Harcourt Federal High Court on July 5, 2019.
According to him, “We have a court order empowering EFCC to conduct the sale of petroleum products carried by 244 trucks forfeited to the government.
“As you know, the extractive Industry is technical. We need your support in the process of disposal of the products.
“We need to determine the status and volume of the products. We need your technical expertise in this regard.”
Responding, the Port Harcourt Zonal Controller of DPR, Mr. Bassey Nkanga, commended EFCC for the visit and expressed the readiness of his agency to support EFCC in carrying out the sale of the products.
“We know the importance of EFCC. We are ready to collaborate with you. That is what we have been doing and we will continue to do so,” Nkanga said.
Meanwhile, in furtherance of the assessment of the forfeited trucks to EFCC, Olukoyede made a physical inspection of some of the forfeited trucks in various locations at Six Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt.
He was received by officers and men of the Division who took him on a guided tour of the locations where the trucks are kept.
The EFCC scribe expressed satisfaction with the custody of the trucks and assured that the agency would liaise with relevant agencies to ensure the accelerated sale of the trucks and the products on it, in line with court’s ruling.
