Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Joint Military Task Force operating in the Niger Delta region, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, OPDS, has handed over a vessel, MT Morris and nine crew members, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The suspects are, according to OPDS are, Felix Eboh; Ovie Idisi; Bob Davies; Ojo Sunday; Oluwale Olaitan; Orok Oyo; Godwin Okpaje, Francis Chinbo and Olanioyi Goodness.
Representative of Sector III, Operation Delta safe, Colonel N.C.E Ejike, who led the handing over, said the suspects and the vessel were arrested by officers of 29 Battalion, Nigeria Army, deployed for anti-bunkering operations at Bile, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Ejike, explained that the suspects were nabbed while siphoning petroleum products suspected to be crude oil from a pipeline.
Receiving the suspects and exhibits, EFCC Head, Extractive Industry Fraud Section, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Ani Davis Stanley, commended the officers and men of the JTF for their commitment towards combating illegal oil bunkering activities and safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain.
Stanley promised that the EFCC will utilize the power vested in it to ensure that justice is served.
He further assured that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.
