Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of 13 suspected oil thieves and a vessel, MT SWEET MIRI, handed over to the Commission by the Nigerian Navy NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos State.
This is even as the Commission has secured a court order to freeze 1,146 suspicious Bank accounts.
The suspects are: Abu Smith, Pascal Anyafulu, David Ali, Mba Okpanu, Chukuma Friday Obiazi, Miye Victor and Richard Kofi.
Others are: Monday Aidenagbon, Dele Olayemi, Boma Robinson, David George, Onos Edemefe and Suleiman Aremu.
The vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on February 27, 2024 by officers of the Nigerian Navy for alleged illegal oil bunkering and Automatic Identification system (AIS) infractions.
The vessel was laden with about 1,322 metric tonnes of substance “confirmed to bear the attributes of crude oil without any document permitting her to be in possession of the substance.”
While receiving the crew members, vessel and product on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Moses Awolusi, Head, Extractive Industry Fraud Section, EIFS, assured the Navy that the suspects and the exhibits would be subjected to further investigations and prosecution.
He also commended the Navy for its collaboration with the EFCC and the good working relationship both agencies had enjoyed over the years.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
On the suspicious Bank accounts, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on 24th April, 2024 granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, an interim order to freeze One Thousand, One Hundred and Forty Six(1,146) bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies being investigated for alleged offences bordering on unauthorized dealing in forex exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing. The judge ordered that the accounts be frozen “pending conclusion of investigation.”
While ruling on a motion moved by the EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, the judge stated “that an order of this honorable court is hereby made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorized dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extent that the investigation will be for a period of 90 (ninety) days.”
The judge added “that preliminary investigation conducted thus far reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of naira and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The judge further stated that there was need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to 23rd, July 2024, for mention. Companies affected by the freezing order range from entities involved in agri-businesses, logistics and haulage, microfinance banks, engineering, among others.