Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Command, have arrested one hundred and twenty suspects for alleged illegal oil bunkering in a joint operation with with personnel of the 6 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army Port Harcourt
They were arrested on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at Ndoni, Rivers State where suspected illegally refined stolen petroleum products are off-loaded into vehicles at the waterfronts for distribution within and outside Rivers State.
The arrest of the suspects was made possible by intelligence on the alleged illegal oil bunkering activities in the locality.
In the course of the arrest, 8 vehicles and pumping machines were recovered. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Abdulrasheed Bawa on Monday, August 15, 2022, handed over some military equipment and accoutrement to the Nigerian Military High Command.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at the Commission’s Zonal Command in Wuse 2, Abuja, the Head of Operations, Headquarters, Assistant Commander of the EFCC ACE II Michael Wetkas who stood in for the Executive Chairman, commended the longstanding collaborative relationship between the Commission and the Nigerian Military.
He explained that the items were recovered from a contractor who supplies military equipment, stating that they were voluntarily handed over to the Commission in the course of an investigation. He said it was important to hand over the equipment directly to the military to prevent them getting into the wrong hands.
Col.AT Bitiyong, who received the items on behalf of the Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for the mutual relationship between the military and the Commission. He assured that all the equipment will be delivered to the appropriate quarters.
The items handed over include 7 ballistic jackets with plates, 1 ballistic jacket without plate, 3 flotation jackets, 5 pieces of plates and 6 pieces of helmets. Others are 9 pieces of camouflage T-shirts and 30 sacks containing web equipment.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Abuja Zonal Commander, ACE II Adeniyi Adebayo, Head Special Investigation, ACE II Goji Mohammed, CSE Junaid M. Sa’id and the Commission’s Exhibit Keeper. CSE Salawu Abdulrazaq.
