Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deeper collaboration with security agencies in tackling corruption, economic crimes, and crude oil theft across Nigeria.
Olukoyede gave the assurance in Port Harcourt when senior officers of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC paid a scheduled visit to Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder.
Speaking through the Acting Director of the Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Hassan Saidu, the EFCC chairman explained that such engagements are part of routine efforts among law enforcement agencies to strengthen operational ties, enhance intelligence sharing, and deepen collaboration in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
“It is a usual practice for law enforcement agencies to occasionally pay scheduled visits to sister organisations towards strengthening ties, strategizing, information sharing and enhanced collaboration in the discharge of our duties,” he said.
Saidu noted that the EFCC and the Nigerian Navy have maintained a long-standing partnership, particularly in the investigation and prosecution of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering cases.
“Right from 2004 that we started, your people have been in collaboration with our organisation. We collaborate, especially in investigating and prosecuting oil bunkering cases,” he said.
He explained that the Navy’s operational control of Nigeria’s maritime domain makes the partnership crucial to the EFCC’s anti-oil theft enforcement efforts.
“We don’t have control of the waters. You are the only one that has the control and can maintain custody of seized vessels. We don’t have the capacity to do it,” Saidu stated.
According to him, the successes recorded so far in prosecuting those involved in illegal oil bunkering are largely due to the synergy between the EFCC, the Navy, and the cooperation of the judiciary.
“All our successes in our investigations and prosecutions of illegal oil bunkers cannot be mentioned without the judiciary and the Nigeria Navy. If you are not there to make the arrests and hand over to us, we have nothing to do,” he said.
Saidu further commended the strategic importance of NNS Pathfinder to the Commission’s operations, noting that the naval command had also provided specialised swimming training for EFCC personnel.
“I know how paramount NNS Pathfinder is to us. This command had even conducted a swimming training for our people which is a laudable one. So we are here to seek the advancement of the collaboration,” he added.
Responding, the Commanding Officer of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore M. I. Raji, welcomed the EFCC delegation and praised the strong working relationship between both organisations.
“It is a great delight to have you in our midst. I appreciate the fact that you recognize the collaborative efforts and synergy that we share,” he said.
Raji explained that while the Nigerian Navy is responsible for securing the nation’s maritime domain and making arrests on the waterways, it relies on agencies like the EFCC to handle prosecutions.
The naval commander also stressed that curbing illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft is critical to achieving the revenue objectives of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Growing the country’s oil revenue is part of the goals of the government, and that can only be achieved if illegal oil bunkering, crude oil theft and other illegal activities in the maritime ecosystem are curbed,” he said.
“We cannot make success if you are not there for us, and we for you,” Raji added, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between both institutions.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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