A bunkered vessel, MV Gratitude, and its crew of six, intercepted on January 9, by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were today January 22, handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
A statement by Acting Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Tony Orilade, said that the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim, while handing over the vessel and crew, disclosed that the ship, laden with 1,000,000 liters of locally refined automotive gas oil and it crew of six Nigerians, namely, Victor Ita (captain), Rotimi Poroye, Henry Edet Bassey, Rahpael Adewale, Godswill Iko and Jonah Achieve, were arrested at the Brass inshore water anchorage.
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.
