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Saturday, May 19, 2012

EFCC takes custody of bunkering vessel

The vessel bearing one million litres of AGO and its crew were arrested by the Nigerian Navy
An oil bunkering vessel conveying about one million litres of AGO and its crew have been handed over into custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following its arrest by the Nigerian Navy.
While acknowledging the receipt of the vessel, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement: “The vessel, MT Takoradi, 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."
“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, Aminu Aliyu," he said.
The crew members include 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,” Uwujaren said.
“On the 26th of January, 2012, MT TAKORADI was accosted by 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.
From preliminary naval investigations, the arrested vessel lacked relevant documents. The captain of the ship, Mohammed said the vessel belongs to Star Wind Management Company, Tripoli, Greece , and the ship broker is NEPS Nigeria limited, Lagos.

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