The Nigerian Navy, Central Naval Command, with headquarters in Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 announced that it had arrested 13 suspects, alleged to be oil thieves, with a vessel containing stolen crude oil intercepted.
The suspects who were paraded at the Navy Command’s Forward Operating Base (FOB Formoso) at Egwema, Brass, Bayelsa State were said to have been apprehended at Middleton and Peddington area of Brass, Bayelsa State with the illegal vessel, named MT Redemption, just off the Atlantic Ocean.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe revealed that the crew, consisting of the Captain, Chief Engineer and 11 others were caught on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
He said: “When the patrol team searched the vessel, it was discovered that some tanks including drums kept on the main deck were laden with products suspected to be crude oil approximately 100,000 litres.
“The captain of the vessel claimed that the contents of the tanks and drums were bitumen but were confirmed to be crude oil after the product was taken to Nigeria Agip Oil Company for laboratory test.
“The crew of MT REDEMPTION could neither disclose the source of the product nor present any valid documents authorising the vessel to lift crude oil.
“Preliminary investigation by his operatives revealed that MT REDEMPTION was owned by one Alhaji Omar Suleiman, who is the owner of Omar Oil Agency Ltd at Tema, Ghana, while the agents of the company in Nigeria are Mr. Niyi Akimosho and Mr. Addisson a Ghanaian who allegedly assist the owner in recruiting crew members.”
Ogoibge also availed that the suspects and the vessel have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
