JUST IN: Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of  Illegal Crude Oil Vessel, MT Kali Arrested By Tompolo’s Men

A Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered the forfeiture of the illegal crude oil vessel, MT Kali, and its contents to the Federal Government.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the vessel and its 22 crew members were arraigned on Monday by the police but their arraignment was stalled due to their non-appearance.

They were arraigned by police in the Charge NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/18/2024 B/W: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V. MT KALI & 22 ORS, before  Justice J.O. Abdulmalik.

Justice Abdulmalik granted the motion for the interim forfeiture of MT Kali & her content to the Federal Government

However, the prosecution of the suspects was stalled as they were not produced in the court by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

All efforts by the prosecuting counsel to convince the court to issue a production warrant to be served on the military authorities for the production of the defendants on 18th March, 2024 being the next adjournment date or at least the issue of defendants’ summons to be served on the defendants through the military authorities proved abortive.

Following this, the court warned that the charges may not proceed if the defendants are not produced for arraignment and plea.

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The vessel was apprehended by Tantita Security Services, in collaboration with the special security task force established by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on on January 11th, 2024, while it was siphoning crude oil from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Pennington Oil field in Bayelsa State.

Twenty crew members, including community boys’ accomplices, were arrested in the operation.

It was gathered that this is the first time in recent time when oil thieves and their barons are being prosecuted and brought to book.

The case is being prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun in conjunction with operatives of Tantita led by its Executive Director, Operations and Technical Services, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh.

Egbetokun had directed the Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) under the command of Mr. Lot Lantoh Garba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to launch a discreet investigation into the arrest of the bunkering ship.

In a separate incident, Tantita Security Services also arrested another illegal bunkering ship, MT Harbor Spirit, and its crew members for stealing crude oil from Sengana oilfields in Bayelsa State in February 4th.

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They are scheduled to be arraigned in court on March 1st, 2024.