The arrested vessel, MT TECHNE, with an estimated 1,905,836 MT of purportedly stolen crude oil has been turned over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, by the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Delta.

At the NNS Delta Jetty in Warri, Delta State, the vessel was turned over to the EFCC by Commodore Chindo Usman Yahaya, Commander, NNS Delta.

On April 25, 2017, according to Commodore Yahaya, the Navy detained the ship for illegal bunkering.

Commodore Yahaya, who was represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Delta, Capt. Solomon Paul, said, “The preliminary investigation report on the arrest of the vessel revealed that at the time of arrest, the vessel had about 1,905,836 MT of alleged stolen crude oil.”

According to Commodore Yahaya, “the vessel was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for Prosecution.

“Consequently, the Naval Headquarters directed the evacuation of the product vide Reference A and the release of the vessel Vide Reference B in compliance with the court order.”

A representative of the EFCC Port Harcourt Court Office, Lawan Ado, promptly handed over the vessel,MT TECNE, to Adetokunbor Arowojolu, a representative of Showboy Integrated Company Limited, the buyer of the vessel.

In a chat with newsmen, Ado said, “After a successful investigation, we were able to secure the forfeiture. We auctioned it to Showboy Integrated Company Limited, the buyer.”