The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu issues warning to Petroleum Tanker Drivers of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)in the Niger Delta area, to steer clear of products diversion and collusion with illegal oil bunkerers.
Ibrahim Magu issues warning to them saying tanker drivers are increasingly getting involved in illegal oil bunkering crimes through product diversions and carriage of illegal petroleum products.
The Head of EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa who received NUPENG at the Anti-graft agency office on Monday, said:
“Your members are being used for illegal diversion of products. Your organization is protecting criminals from being arrested and this is worrisome. Your organization, NUPENG is known for comradeship, not collusion. Right now, we have over 500 Trucks in our custody for investigation and possible prosecution on illegal oil bunkering. This is not good enough. You must desist from this practice”, he said.
Magu charged the drivers to come forward with modalities of tackling illegal movements of their trucks in order to stem the tide of daily arrests.
“You can come up with how to monitor movements of your trucks. You can look into tracking of your trucks. It is obvious that those illegal oil bunkerers refining illegal products are in business because they are sure that your members are available to convey the products”, he said. .
He also tasked the drivers to key into the whistle blowing policy of the government by offering useful information to the EFCC on the activities of drivers suspected to be fraudulent.
In his response, Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Comrade Ezenwa Kinglsley, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for the visit. He explained that NUPENG had never supported any of its members involved in products diversion or collusion with illegal oil bunkerers. .