The Central Command of the Nigerian Navy, Yenegoa, Monday, 14th January, 2013 handed over twenty three suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for further investigation and prosecution. The suspects, who were arrested in two separate operations on the 19th and 25th November, 2012 comprise ten Indian nationals and thirteen others.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Yenegoa, the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral J.O Olutoyin said the Navy in collaboration with the EFCC is determined to curb oil theft on our water ways.

Receiving the suspects, on behalf of the Commission, the representative of the Head Operations, Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the EFCC, Macaulay Olayinka said the Commission will continue to collaborate will the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in fighting corruption and all forms of economic and financial crimes in the country. "We will give this case the required attention so that the suspects can be charged to court promptly", he assured.

Luck ran out of some of the suspects aboard a ship, Motor Tanker EVE comprising nine Nigerians and two Ghanaians when the Nigerian Navy's Forward Operating Base (FOB) on a routine patrol off Brass intercepted and arrested the ship at the Akassa River entrance. At point of arrest, the ship was carrying about seventy five thousand liters (75,000) of AGO and the captain of the ship could neither explain the source or the loading point or platform of the product.

According to Admiral Olutoyin, the ship MT EVE does not have the Nigerian Ports Authority's (NPA) Bunkering Permit, a Ship Log or Joint Task Force (JFT) OP PULO SHEILD Certificate of Registration for vessels engaged in movement of oil product.

The suspects aboard the MT EVE Include: Pius Dajahya, (Captain of the Vessel), Akpos Owei, David Kent, (Ghanaian), John Mensah (Ghanaian), Okebunde Jackson, John Okereke, Ochuku Jacob, Frank Chukwebueze, Dangani Issufu (Ghanaian), Everest Anya and Peter Ekori

In a separate operation, another ship MT AKSHAY formerly known as WINE TRADER owned by Krishna Shipping Inc, Mainstream Charlestown Nevis and operated by Veesham Shipping Inc with tanker crew of 10 Indians and two Nigerians carrying one hundred and fifty seven thousand, eight hundred and twenty two liters (157,822) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was intercepted. The tanker also, was not listed in the NNPC Tanker Nomination Schedule and she does not have Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Bunkering Permit nor the Joint Task Force (JFT) OP SHIELD Certificate of registration for vessels engaged in the movement of crude oil.

The tanker crew at the point of arrest includes: Sailesh Kumar Singh (Indian), Chandrashekhar Sharma (Indian), Dharmaraj Kumar (Indian), Dele Johnson Olayomi, Ajay Kumar (Indian), Nimesh Kodi Parambil (Indian), Ashraf Ali (Indian), Sanjeev Kumar (Indian) Sarbjot Singh (Indian), Arvind Kumar (Indian) Bhardwaj (Indian), Gagan Kumar (Indian), and Benneth Egbegi.

Media & Publicity Unit