The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigeria Navy have agreed to strengthen the existing collaboration between the organizations in their efforts to curb illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
This decision was reached on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 when officials of the EFCC Benin Zonal Office paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria Navy Ship Delta, Warri, Delta State.
EFCC Benin Zonal Head, Mailafia Yakubu in his speech disclosed that the essence of the visit was to inform the Nigeria Navy Ship, Delta that the EFCC has commenced operations in Benin and therefore solicit their cooperation in curbing activities of oil thieves.
He said, “I want to commend the Nigeria Navy for their prominent role in dealing with oil thieves.
“Many of the suspects handed over to us in the past have been prosecuted and some have been convicted.
“It is this collaboration we want enhanced as the Benin office covers operations in Edo, Delta and Ondo states,” Yakubu said.
Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, who expressed his delight with the EFCC for establishing an office in Benin said the Benin office will close any gap that may have existed in the past as Benin was easily accessible.
“We will be working together. We have a lot of cases to hand over once investigations are concluded”, he said
Commodore Dewu assured that the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta will partner with the Commission to curb illegal oil bunkering and other activities of oil thieves in the region.
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