Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has taken delivery of eight suspected oil thieves, including Cameroonians allegedly caught while bunkering illegally refined PMS, from the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Victory.
NNS Victory Commander, M.D. Fefa, who handed over the suspects to the EFCC Zonal Office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, also handover 105 drums of illegally acquired Premium Motor Spirit, and a wooden boat used for the illegal activity.
Fefa explained that the arrest was made on April 28, 2019, by a patrol team from his Command, while the suspects were bunkering the products to Cameroon from Oron.
He said the suspects arrested onboard the boat are, Godwin Eden (Nigerian), Justice Ibanga (Nigerian), Effiong Gilbert (Nigerian), Manasseh Obani (Nigerian), Ambe Festus (Cameroonian), Alpha Emmanuel (Cameroonian), Sakwe Felix (Cameroonian) and Vasco Mekora (Cameroonian).
“My men intercepted the wooden boat laden with drums of Premium Motor Spirit PMS, concealed under plastic drums of palm oil, at Oron Bar along the Calabar waterways, while they were transiting to Cameroon,” he said.
Receiving the suspects, the Head, Extractive Industry Fraud Section, of EFCC, Uyo Office, Mr. Victor Ikang, gave the assurance that the Commission remained poised to rid the country of illegal dealing in petroleum products which has so far affected the nation’s economy negatively.
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Ikang stressed that the culprits will be duly prosecuted.
“The EFCC is determined to enforce its mandate, while collaborating with other security agencies like the Nigerian Navy in ensuring that the nation’s waterways are safe and secured.”
