Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday announced that all the 244 forfeited trucks impounded by the Nigerian Army in Rivers State for oil theft, belong to the Federal Government and the processes for their auction are ongoing.
Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who disclosed this while on a working visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Commission, stressed that illegal oil bunkerers would face tougher times this new year.
Magu paid an inspection visit to the 6th Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, where vehicles forfeited to the Federal Government by illegal oil dealers are being parked.
The EFFCC boss said the Commission has a permission from the court to auction the forfeited trucks, since no one has come out to claim the impounded trucks since 2017.
He explained that the rucks will be released to bidders after the Commission must have confirmed payment into the Federal Government’s designated treasury single account.
“All the vehicles forfeited belong to government. The processes are ongoing. We are following processes stated in the Procurement Act. We are not hiding anything. All the vehicles auctioned are still there. The auction processes continue until payments and reconciliation are made.”
The EFCC helmsman also warned illegal oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region to desist from acts of oil theft and economic sabotage.
Magu regretted that illegal oil bunkering is a terrible leakage of the economy and the EFCC would not relent in fighting it.
“Let me also use this medium to warn all illegal oil bunkerers to desist from their nefarious operations. The EFCC is resolute in its fight against economic sabotage and oil theft.
“The Niger Delta is highly significant to our national economy and the Commission will continue to do all that is lawful and patriotic in ensuring that operators of illegal oil bunkering are brought to book.”
Magu commended the media for its advocacy roles, stressing that it remains an ally in the fight against corruption, while tasking citizens to be more active in lending support to the EFCC so that economic and financial crimes would be more frontally tackled.
On the issue of a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from investigating the Rivers State government, Magu said events had overtaken the judgment and that there are several rulings that had knocked off the injunction.
“That judgment cannot stand the test of time. The judgment is overtaken by events and there are several judgments that had nullified the injunction. The matter is now in the Supreme Court,” Magu said.
Reply
Reply all
Forward