Ten suspected oil thieves were on Friday handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Commodore Emmanuel Okechukwu Enemor.
The suspects, comprising crew members of MV DALAL, were arrested in March 2013 for allegedly having onboard products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
Preliminary investigation, according to the Navy, revealed that the vessel and her crew were operating under the registered name and licence of SOLABSTAR Oil and Gas Limited and that the captain confessed to having lifted 120,000 litters of illegally refined AGO at Akassa to be delivered at Kirikiri Jetty in Lagos.
According to Commodore Enemor, the vessel at the time of arrest, did not have Nigerian Ports Authority bunkering permit, ship log, Naval Headquarters approval and JTF OP PULO SHIELD Certificate of Registration.
Laboratory analysis of the sample of the product from the vessel also indicated that the AGO is of poor quality.
Enemor assured the commission that the Nigerian Navy would provide all necessary assistance to facilitate further investigation and diligent prosecution of the case.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
