By Paul Effiong
Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has called for the establishment of a special court to enable speedy trial and prosecution of all oil theft suspects in the country.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede made the appeal when he appeared at the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft/Losses yesterday in Abuja.
During a resumed investigative hearing yesterday, the Chairman of the Commission was represented by his Chief of Staff, Micheal Uzokwue along with the Commission’s Head of Investigation, Abdukarim Chukkol.
The Chairman while speaking further informed the investigative panel that the Commission has a special unit that deal with all cases of oil theft across the country.
Responding to questions field in by some lawmakers during the probe, the Commission explained that it has a department that specifically deal with bunkering and oil theft across Nigeria.
In his brief opening welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Oil Theft/Losses, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa disclosed that his Committee is charged with the mandate of investigating all dimensions of oil theft and losses in the oil and gas sector in the country with special focus on action of all actors including criminal gangs, militia groups, the local populace, company employees and security agencies with a view to bringing those complicit to justice.
According to Doguwa, his Committee also have the mandate to oversight utilization of funds made available to agencies or from special intervention fund for the purpose of combating crude oil theft and other related matters.
In its presentation, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC told the panel that they have invested in several infrastructural project and programme for the youths across the region.
NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku who was represented by the Director Community and Rural Development, Theophilus Allagoa, during the probe also explained strategic measures being taken to collaborate with security agencies to curb oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
The Chairman of the Committee, had earlier while interrogating NDDC urged for adequate provision of socio-economic infrastructure for the people of Niger Delta as a measure to address oil theft vandalism among other social vices.
Other agencies like Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agencies ,NIMASA,who were also at the investigative hearing said they have not been carried along like other relevant agencies to know the amount of crude oil being shipped out of the country.
