The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday said it had taken possession of an illegal oil bunkering vessel suspected to be carrying 300 metric tonnes of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil commonly known as diesel and its crew arrested by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Saturday last week.
The vessel, MT Ocean Treasure, alongside eight crew members and three staffers of Vital Shipping Limited, Apapa, owners of the vessel, were handed over to officials of the EFCC, a statement from the commission said.
The statement signed by the commission’s Ag. Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, gave the names of the crew members as Ayoade Emmanuel, Stephen Bamgbose, Idowu Balogun, King. C. Fred and Michael Ekanem. Others are Olorunwa Omowunmi, Felix Ayenuberu and Suru Lepe; while the three staff on board the vessel are Onuoha Ikechukwu, Omodara Emmanuel and Faith Akhahowa.
According to the statement, MT Ocean Treasure and its crew were handed over to the EFCC by NIMASA’s Principal Maritime Safety Officer Duniya David, the director general of the agency, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, who urged the Commission to carry out further investigation on the source of the petroleum product and the operations of the vessel.