EFCC uncovers illegal oil operations by foreigners

JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yester­day, disclosed told how 14 foreign nationals ac­cused of illegal dealing in petroleum products within Nigeria territorial waters allegedly carried out the transaction with­out license or permit.

The court was in­formed about how the il­legal activities were car­ried out by the foreigners before they were arrested and charged to court by the Economic and Finan­cial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC gave the ac­count when one of its witnesses, Mr Abdullahi Allaya, testified before the court.

The accused per­sons include “Three Russians, Arthur Pak­hladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich, Kretov An­drey, one Japanese, Ser­gio Abgarian, and three Ukrainians, Vitalis Bi­luos, Laguta Olesksiy, Chepikov Oleksan.

Others are: seven Brit­ons, Hilarion Teofilo Re­gipor JR, Cadavis Gerar­do, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero JR. Patro Christian, Al­cayde Joel, Carantiquit Micheal Bryan and three vessels namely: MT An­uket Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd.”

They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing and storage of petroleum products with­out lawful authority.

Allaya told the court that the accused per­sons imported petroleum products into Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without proper documentation.

He also testified that there were evidences that the accused and their vessels carried out some transactions within Ni­geria territorial waters and its EEZ without any license from Nigeria au­thorities.

“All the relevant au­thorities responsible for issuing licenses concern­ing maritime activities in Nigeria replied our letters, confirming that no licence or permit was issued to the accused to carry out transactions within the country’s wa­ters,” Allaya testified.

The Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedipo, who was leading the witness, however tendered some documents that con­firmed that the accused carried the alleged illegal transaction in Nigeria to the court and the docu­ments were admitted as evidence.

However, after the tes­timony of the witness, Justice Ibrahim Buba ad­journed the case to Octo­ber 5 for cross examina­tion of the witness.

EFCC had on June 10 arraigned 14 foreign na­tionals over alleged ille­gal dealing in petroleum products.

The prosecutor had said that the accused committed the alleged offences in February 27, within the jurisdiction of the court.

He said the accused allegedly stored 1,500 Metric Tons of Automat­ed Gas Oil inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo tank.

They also stored 3,035 Metric Tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other tanks.

Oyedepo had said that the offences contravened Sections 4, 17, 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Of­fences Act and the Petro­leum Act, Laws of Fed­eration.