Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Operatives of the Nigerian Police have vacated Mega Tools filling station owned and operated by a political ally to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, which was sealed by the Rivers State Government ten months ago on allegation of illegal oil bunkering.
Recall that the station was sealed and barricaded by policemen on August 19, 2022 on the orders of former governor, Nyesom Wike, who also directed for the arrest of the owner of the filling station,
Mega Tools filling station in Ojoto Street, Mile II Diobu, is owned by a former lawmaker, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, who represented Port Harcourt Constituency II at the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.
The lawmaker had announced that the sealing of the filling station by the State Government was politically motivated, and also denied being involved in illegal oil bunkering.
Igwe said his ordeal was connected to his alliance with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, as the Rivers State government had also sealed off businesses of party chieftains who were loyal to Atiku, including an hotel and a bar belonging to a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara.
“Regarding my petrol station, the security personnel from the government house have not given any reason for sealing the three business places. There was no notification ahead of the incident.
“For example, the security officers arrived at my petrol station, and they were allowed to inspect the facility. Nothing incriminating was found in the facility. I have never been involved in illegal oil bunkering,” Igwe said.
The circumstances under which the filling station was unsealed could not be ascertained, however, SweetcrudeReports gathered that business activities have since recommenced at the filling station since June 1, 2023.
Our correspondent who visited the filling station noted that Mega Tools has not only been unsealed, but petroleum products were been dispensed to customers.
It will be recalled that Rivers State Government under the administration of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, after shutting down the filling station, ordered security agencies to arrest the owner of Mega Tools filling station, alleging that the station was involved in illegal oil bunkering.
Wike said government will ensure the prosecution of the owner of the filling station to demonstrate the resolve to reduce illegal oil bunkering activities in the State to the barest minimum.
“If I hear of any filling station involved in oil bunkering, I will close that filling station. Therefore, I have directed the security agencies to identify who has that filling station in Diobu, arrest that person and we are going to prosecute the person. It doesn’t matter how highly placed that person is.
“Some of you should be used to teach a lesson. We cannot allow oil bunkering. We will reduce it to the barest minimum. So, I have ordered the security agencies to identify who owns that filling station that was sealed up two days ago and arrest the owner. Let him tell us why he is involved in oil bunkering.”
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