Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Nigerian Navy disclosed that it had handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 70 of the 147 vessels arrested for illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft at the resumed investigative hearing of the House of Representatives adhoc committee on fuel subsidy probe.
The revelation was made by Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Director of Lesson Learnt, while addressing lawmakers, who stated that the Navy does not have the authority to prosecute arrested vessels, and that culprits are usually handed over to security agencies, and in most cases, the EFCC.
He also returned 14 arrested vessels to their owners, who had been cleared of all charges.
According to our records, 70 of the 147 vessels detained were turned over to the EFCC, while others were turned over to other agencies. In the records of seizures made in respect of petroleum products arrested over illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft, a total of 127 vessels were involved in various types of offenses.
“Those distributed to owners at the same time were included.” In terms of prosecutions, the Nigerian Navy lacks the statutory authority or authority to prosecute arrested vessels during seizure. “They are usually turned over to security agencies, most notably the EFCC,” he explained.
He went on to say that the NNPC and the Pipeline and Product Monitoring Company (PPMC) usually sent copies of letters containing details of vessels authorized to transport oil products in and out of the country to the Nigerian Navy.
In 2020 and 2021, he claims that 10,489 such letters were sent to the Nigerian Navy alone.
The committee members were outraged that the Navy relied on the NNPC for such information.
“We leave waterways in your care,” said House Spokesman Hon. Benjamin Kalu, “so it is your mandate regardless of what NNPC does.” To say you only rely on what the NNPC provides does not inspire confidence in Nigerians who allow you to monitor what enters the country.
“I’m aware that the Navy tracks every tanker that arrives or departs with oil and gas products.”
While praising the Navy for providing additional information, Hon. Mark Gbillah expressed surprise at their response.
As a result, Congress gave the Navy one week to provide detailed information on vessels that imported and exported crude oil from 2017 to the present.
