Oil theft: Navy, EFCC hand over seized vessels to firm
The Nigerian Navy, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, have transferred two vessels, MT Beskid and MT Hope, impounded for oil theft to an indigenous firm, Fenix Impex Nig. Ltd.
Our correspondent gathered that the ships were handed over on Wednesday to the firm by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Olutoyin told our correspondent that the development was in line with two separate rulings of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa and Asaba, Delta State.
He said the two vessels, which were arrested by the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield and handed over to the EFCC for prosecution, were later convicted for illegal bunkering.
He confirmed that Fenix was appointed as a contractor to remove the contents of the vessels, determine their quality and decide whether they could be sold with their proceeds remitted to the coffers of the government.
He said the Legal Adviser, Ministry of Petroleum, Ibrahim Dikko, and Senior Detective Superintendent, EFCC, Ade Haastrup, witnessed the ceremony.
According to him, MT Beskid was laden with 50 metric tonnes of illegally refined diesel, while MT Hope contained an unspecified quantity of crude oil.
He said the evacuation was necessary to avoid pollution and other illegal activities that could harm the environment, adding that the vessels had been forfeited by their owners to the government.
He warned the firm against engaging in “inimical activities” outside the ruling of the court, reiterating that the company was only expected to remove the contents.
He said, “With the handing over of the court documents to the Nigerian Navy, the unit where the vessels are located will be directed to allow Fenix to remove the product, making sure that what will be done by the company will be solely the removal of the products and nothing else as spelt out in the court order.”
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