EFCC recovers over N1.5b, others in P/H in nine months

…also 283 oil theft  trucks, forfeited 59 

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said that it has recovered a total sum of N 1, 592,568,524.38 in their operations between January and September,  2018.

The Anti-Graft agency also disclosed that it equally recovered a total of $678,354.80 (U S) as well as the sum of 5,254 Euro within the period under review.

The head of operation of the agency in Port Harcourt zone, Mr. Nnaghe Obono Itam who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital  yesterday also said a total number of 283 trucks laden with illegal petroleum substance were apprehended and handed over to them by the Army in the period.

Itam said laboratory test conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), on the products confirmed that 121 of the trucks were loaded with adulterated diesel, 39 of them has high pour Fuel oil(HPFO) and  low Pour Fuel oil(LPFO), whereas 31 of the vehicles were Kaden with waste/lube oil,  among others.

He however noted that 59 of the truck with estimated quantity of 1, 013.7 metric tons(1,180,00 litres) of the petroleum product(diesel, kerosene and crude oil),  have been forfeited to the Federal Government after investigation.

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However the commission is worried that the owners of the trucks have not shown up to claim their property since the vehicles were impounded.

Itam equally expressed challenge in prosecuting the drivers who he said are presently on Army bail. According to him the Army officers who arrested the drivers and impounded the trucks have equally refused to liaise with the legal department if the commission for proper statement to enable them commence prosecution of the  suspects.

He said,  “It is pertinent to note that some of the owners of the trucks are yet to report to claim ownership of their trucks.  This may be due to the fact that the drivers after their release by the Nigerian Army never reported the incident to their respective owners.

“Some owners that reported assisted the commission in the arrest of their drivers. Charges have been prepared against the drivers and they will be arraigned in court soon.” he stressed.

Expressing handicap in the their investigations said,  “The commission in locating the owners who are yet to claim their trucks is currently liaising with various states’ motor licencing agencies for registration of the trucks. The ones without owners will be published on the newspapers before their final forfeiture.” he said.

Speaking further said,  “The arresting officer of the Army who are key in the successful prosecution of these cases in court are yet to report for statement despite several appeals.” he expressed.

However when contacted,  the spokesman of 6 Division, Nigerian Army Bori Camp Aliu Illiyasu, where the concerned Army officers are attached to fie reaction on the allegation, denied any suspected  plans by men of the  Army to frustrate the process of justice delivery,  but promises to find out what went wrong and them get back to the Reporter, but to no avail; at least as at the time of filing this report.