Head, EFCC Lagos Zonal office, Ahmed Ghali (r), with Commanding Officer NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore B. Mohammed… earlier today
-As Commission, Nigerian Navy reaffirm commitment to fight menace
The Lagos Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that it has secured the conviction of 76 oil thieves in less than two years.
This was disclosed today by the Zonal Head of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, during a courtesy visit paid him by the new Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore B. Mohammed, on the occasion of which, the EFCC and the Nigerian Navy reaffirmed their committment to tackle the menace of oil theft.
Ghali said that the convicts were among the 153 suspects handed over by the Nigerian Navy for further investigation from December 2019 till date.
Ghali also disclosed that the Zone secured the conviction of nine vessels out of the 19 it took over from the Nigerian Navy from 2019 till date, adding that while eight vessels are currently being prosecuted, one is under investigation. In the meantime, he said, “I am awaiting legal advice on the last vessel before it is charged to court”.
Ghali, assured Commodore Mohammed that he would ensure “that the existing collaboration with the Nigerian Navy is sustained”.
“About 90 percent of the cases handed over to us have been successfully dealt with.
“But we would not have achieved this without your support.”
Earlier in his address, Mohammed, who recently assumed command of NNS Beecroft, said the visit was informed by the need to share ideas with the EFCC, which he described as a great partner in the sustained fight against illegal oil bunkering.
“I am impressed with the rate of prosecution and convictions secured by the EFCC, though more still needs to be done,” he said.
