The Nigerian Navy has handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 12 suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an un-named barge and two wooden boats for further investigation and prosecution.

While handing over the suspects to EFCC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Commodore W. O Kayoda, Commander of NNS PATHFINDER said that the suspected oil thieves were arrested on February 6, 2017 by the NNS PATHFINDER patrol team deployed for Anti-Crude Oil Theft/ Illegal Oil Bunkering operations around Taraba Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt. They were arrested with one vessel: MV OMISAN 1 and one wooden boat.

The suspects, who were crew members of MV OMISAN 1 and the wooden boat were arrested in the process of trans-shipping an estimated 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) from the wooden boat to MV OMISAN 1.

Similarly, on February 7, the patrol team intercepted a barge laden with an estimated 100,000 litres of products suspected to be AGO, and another wooden boat laden with an estimated 60,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO around Isaka axis. However, no suspect was arrested with the seizures made on February 7.

The suspects aboard MV OMISAN 1 are: Captain Benjamio Igiogio; Engineer Samuel Ogunfemi; Jakpa Eyituoyo; Johnson Dudu; Ogunkalu Taiwo; Toju Oko-Otiuroh; Desmond Edafe Unuarhe; Ibiye Ngiania; Sylvanus Ikorawi J; Ayadi Abiola, Chibueze Nwali and Imeh Brown.

EFCC said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as inve

stigation is completed.

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