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SSS
SSS, EFCC take over missing ship probe
ABIODUN ADELAJA,
Abuja
STATE Security
Services (SSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
operatives have commenced fresh investigations into the circumstances leading to
the disappearance of a ship, MV African Pride, earlier impounded over
alleged illegal bunkering.
Daily Champion
authoritatively learnt that the independent investigations by the two agencies
were in the light of conflicting reports on the missing vessel between Naval
authorities and the Nigeria Police.
But as investigations continue, Group
Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr
Funsho Kupolokun disclosed yesterday that the crude recovered from the ship was
contaminated and sold off at a mere $4 per barrel instead of at over $30 market
price.
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral
Samuel Afolayan, while testifying before the House of Representatives
investigative panel, said the vessel had been handed over to the police, a claim
the Inspector-General (IG), Mr. Tafa Balogun, promptly disclaimed in his own
testimony.
Although SSS Director-General, Col. Kayode
Are (rtd) appeared before the panel behind closed doors yesterday, sources
informed newsmen that the security chief confirmed the efforts of his men to
unravel the mystery behind disappearance of the ship.
Daily Champion
gathered that delay by the two security agencies to commence investigations
immediately the ship was reported missing, was due to a presidential directive
to the police to probe the matter.
It was, however, gathered that the police
investigation had been stopped to enable both the SSS and EFCC do a "thorough
job" as "one cannot be a judge in his own case."
Kupolokun, who testified before the House
Committee on Navy, conducting the inquiry, said the now missing ship was
returned to the custody of the Navy after NNPC inspectors completed evacuation
of the crude oil content.
The vessel which was impounded over
alleged illegal bunkering in August last year was last month reported missing
from Nigeria�s territorial waters.
Kupolokun who took his turn before the
panel yesterday, said the crude oil which was found to be contaminated at the
point of evacuation was sold to NNPC subsidiary, Duke Oil at $4 as against
prevailing market price.
Although Kupolokun did not disclose the
total monetary value of the crude oil, the NNPC boss put the total value of the
product evacuated from MV African Pride and seven other impounded ships
at 11,950 cubic metres.
He said 6,899 cubic metres was from the
missing ship alone.
The NNPC, he said, acting on the
presidential directives, took delivery of the crude oil between January 28 and
30 this year while the vessel remained in custody of Naval personnel.
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