The Nigerian Navy has lamented the negative effect of unbridled granting of court bonds to offending oil vessel, noting they are impeding fight against oil theft.
Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, who spoke while handing a vessel arrested with illegal oil consignment arrested around the Escravos Bar, over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said criminals are now taking advantage of what they consider a legal loophole.
Speaking to journalists on board of the impounded vessel, MT Skye, Dewu recalled that the vessel had been arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in 2014, but was released on bond by a court in Port Harcourt, River state, for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to dispose off of the products.
However, according to the navy chief, just like in some other cases, the crew of the vessel decided to execute other plans by taking the vessel out of its outlined course, take in more illegal products. It was in this process that they vessel was rearrested in the Delta waters, far from its original route.
โThis vessel; MT Skye, was arrested off Escravos Bar. The same vessel had been arrested by Operation Delta Safe in 2014, handed over to the EFCC and tried for the offence. However, the vessel was released on bond by a court in Port Harcourt. Operation Delta Safe released this vessel with about 388 metric tons of crude oil on board with a bond for DPR to sell the product and return the money into the federal governmentโs coffers.
โHowever, this vessel was arrested with products of about 505 metric tons on board, according to the Captain of the vessel. On investigation, after the arrest, we realized that this vessel has 524 metric tons on board in seven out of the 12 compartments of the vessel. On further investigation, shockingly too, we discovered that 5 out of the 7 compartments have AGO on board.
โNow there are a lot of inconsistencies; the same vessel, according to the crew, was supposed to go the high seas from Brass, on their way to Port Harcourt to dispose of the product after the court case, however, we found them off Escravos and they claimed to be having machinery problems, which led them to Escravos.
โSecondly, this vessel was released with about 388 metric tons of product, only for us to find 524 metric tons and part of it being AGO, not just the crude which was released.
โThis is one of the problems that weโve been encountering; vessels hiding under bonds to commit illegal activities. This vessel has been arrested this month. The vessel was arrested with 9 crew members, all Nigerians. While the investigation is ongoing, we are handing over now, weโve done our own preliminary investigation, which is to prove that the products on board had no valid approval, thatโs where the navy comes inโ, Dewu said.
Speaking on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Principal Detective Superintendent, Mr. Richard Ogberagha said the Agency expects to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter.
Ogberagha stressed that officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR were already on ground taking samples saying, โWe have started alreadyโ.
In his words, โOne, to determine the substance which is found in this vessel. Two, to determine the quantity of distance also found in the vessel. Three to also to determine if they have approval to carry whatever is inside the vessel and four, prosecution of all the parties involved.โ
