The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has sought the
technical expertise of the Department of Petroleum Resources, in the
disposal of petroleum products and trucks forfeited to the Federal
Government by individuals and companies convicted of illegal dealing
in petroleum products.
This request was made in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital by
EFCC Secretary, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, when he paid an official
visit to the Department of Petroleum Resources, Port Harcourt Zone.
Olukoyede said EFCC needed the technical expertise of DPR to sell off
petroleum products carried by trucks forfeited to the government, as
contained in a final forfeiture order recently granted the anti-graft
agency the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
He explained that the forfeiture of the trucks and products was
contained in an order granted by Justice I. M Sani of the Port
Harcourt Federal High Court on July 5, 2019.
According to him, We have a court order empowering EFCC to conduct the
sale of petroleum products carried by 244 trucks forfeited to the
government.
As you know, the extractive Industry is technical. We need your
support in the process of disposal of the products.
We need to determine the status and volume of the products. We need
your technical expertise in this regard.
Responding, the Port Harcourt Zonal Controller of DPR, Mr. Bassey
Nkanga, commended EFCC for the visit and expressed the readiness of
his agency to support EFCC in carrying out the sale of the products.
We know the importance of EFCC. We are ready to collaborate with you.
That is what we have been doing and we will continue to do so, Nkanga
said.
Meanwhile, in furtherance of the assessment of the forfeited trucks to
EFCC, Olukoyede made a physical inspection of some of the forfeited
trucks in various locations at Six Division Nigerian Army, Port
Harcourt.
He was received by officers and men of the Division who took him on a
guided tour of the locations where the trucks are kept.
The EFCC scribe expressed satisfaction with the custody of the trucks
and assured that the agency would liaise with relevant agencies to
ensure the accelerated sale of the trucks and the products on it, in
line with court’s ruling.