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August 5, 2023
The 1,117 tons vessel carrying about 8,100 barrels of crude was escorted by some naval officers before it was reportedly intercepted on Wednesday.
A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Public Accountability, (CPA) has called on the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to launch investigation into allegations of involvement of its officers in crude oil theft.
SaharaReporters had reported that operatives of a private security agent - Tanita Security Services – intercepted a vessel carrying crude oil suspected to have been stolen in the Koko area of Delta State.
The 1,117 tons vessel carrying about 8,100 barrels of crude was escorted by some naval officers before it was reportedly intercepted on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the firm said that the vessel tagged MT Praisel was flying a Togolese flag and was being escorted by a Navy boat led by a senior naval commander.
The Tanita operatives said there was resistance from the navy boat escorting the vessel and that the naval commander threatened to “deal” with them.
Meanwhile, the private operatives said they refused to back down, and they contacted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Chief of Naval Staff, Ogalla, who authorised them to inspect the vessel.
According to the Tanita operatives, upon entrance into the ship, they noticed that the vessel was authorised to carry products by the navy but did not have any approvals from Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the authority responsible for the regulation of the midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria, for the said voyage.
However, Olufemi Lawson, Executive Director, Centre for Public Accountability CPA, in a statement signed on Saturday called for sanction for those officers, found wanting.
The statement reads in part; "Recall, that a private security firm, Tantita Security Services Limited, engaged by the federal government of Nigeria, intercepted a vessel, Motor Tanker, MT PRAISEL, bearing a Togolese flag, suspected to have engaged in oil bunkering, on Wednesday, August 2, in Delta State. However, the vessel was subsequently escorted by a Navy boat to an unknown destination, raising questions of a cover-up.
"According to a source, those involved in this matter are highly placed and well-connected and are doing everything to frustrate any revelation as to the true content of the vessel. When the Tantita operatives attempted to board the vessel, they were met with resistance from the Navy boat and a certain Cdr Musa threatened to deal decisively with the Tantita operatives, but they refused to back down.
"The question remains: who are those trying to cover up the illegal activities of the MT PRAISEL? And why is the Navy complicit in this cover-up? We here urge the Chief of Naval Staff to truly launch an in-depth investigation into allegations of involvement of their officers in crude oil theft and sanction those found to be wanting to repose confidence in the navy.”
"This is a serious matter that demands a thorough investigation. The public deserves to know the truth about what happened to the MT PRAISEL and who is responsible for this brazen attempt to cover up a crime. We will not rest until the truth is known and those responsible are brought to justice," the statement added.