The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), on Wednesday received an illegal oil bunkering vessel, MV Gratitude and its crew of six, intercepted on January 9, 2020 by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The anti-graft agency took over the vessel and the crew for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim, performed the brief handover ceremony at the naval base in Yenagoa on Wedenesday.
He disclosed that the ship at point of arrest was laden with 1,000,000 liters of locally refined automotive gas oil with six Nigerians onboard.
The crew members, according to him include, Victor Ita (captain), Rotimi Poroye, Henry Edet Bassey, Rahpael Adewale, Godswill Iko and Jonah Achieve.
They were arrested at the Brass inshore water anchorage, Ibrahim said.
He assured of the navy’s determination to clear the waterways of illegal oil bunkering and sea pirates for legitimate business operators to thrive.
Tasiu Abubakar, a superintendent of police who received the vessel and crew members on behalf of the EFCC, promised diligent investigation of the alleged crime, EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade said in a statement.
