The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday took custody of 11 people alleged to have been involved in oil bunkering, even as it took possession of a suspected oil bunkering vessel from the Nigerian Navy.
In a statement signed by its Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren made available to Journalists, the vessel namedMT Takorodi, bearing one million litres of suspected Automotive Gas Oil, and 11 crew members were handed over to the Commission at a brief ceremony at NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos by the Commanding Officer, Navy Commodore, M. J. O. Njoku.
According to him, “The vessel and its cargo, together with the crew were received on behalf of the EFCC by the head, General Investigation and Counter Terrorism section of the Commission’s Lagos zonal office, Mr. Aminu Aliyu.
The crew include the Captain, Musa Mohammed and the Chief Engineer, Freeborn Otuagoma.
Commodore Njoku explained that the vessel was arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy aboard the NNS Thunder on routine patrol on January 26, 2012.
“On the 26th of January, 2012, MT TAKORADI was accosted by the Nigerian Navy ship Thunder on patrol. Investigations revealed that the Vessel was carrying about one million litres of AGO without Nigerian Navy clearance. Consequently, the Vessel was arrested.