The Nigerian police have sponsored three Indians and five Nigerians (whose names are revealed the true identity of (hidden). ), located in Bayelsa State.
Similarly, the police arrested a popular oil and gas tycoon (name withheld) based in Lagos. This man is said to be the owner and sponsor of the Moldovan ship MT Harbor Spirit, and was also arrested for illegally siphoning crude oil from the Sengana oil field in the coastal axis. of Bayelsa State on February 4, 2024.
The oil trader, who has offices in Ikeja, Lagos State, was arrested on Monday at the invitation of the police investigating the operation of illegal bunkering vessels.
The leadership learned that he was immediately taken to Abuja on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
He has remained in custody ever since as police try to establish his responsibility in the shady oil deals.
However, one of our reliable police sources hinted that Indians who are part of the management team of a major oil company operating in the Kwale axis of Delta State are yet to accept the police invitation.
Their emissaries, identified as a retired Navy Rear Admiral and Captain and a former Assistant Superintendent of Police who came on behalf of the foreigners, claimed that the Indians were outside the country.
However, police said the Indian suspects insisted that they would have to accept the invitation personally upon their return.
However, police findings revealed that Indians and Nigerians were the promoters of Deep Frontline Shippers Limited, which allegedly procured MT potash for illegal missions.
According to police reports, Indian nationals have over 150 other companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and are involved in a range of businesses in the country's oil and gas sector.
In January, the MT Kali was intercepted by private security firm Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) and the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) while siphoning crude oil from SPDC's Pennington oil field in Bayelsa State. It was captured by a joint team. 11, 2024.
The 23 suspects, comprising 12 members of the crew and 11 youths from the host community who offered operational support to the crew to carry out nefarious missions in the area, were arrested in a raid by TSSL and NSCDC operatives. Ta.
The leadership's findings lead Egbetokun to the Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) under the command of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lot Ranto Garba, to launch a discreet investigation into the arrest of the two oil companies. It is clear that he was instructed to do so. Device.
It was concluded at the weekend that Mr Garba had submitted an interim report to Mr Egbetokun on the issue.
An impeccable source within IGP-STFPIB said that inquiries from the CAC by the police revealed that MT Kali was actually registered in the name of Frontline Shippers Limited, IGP – reported an impeccable source within STFPIB. Captain David Adeboye spoke to investigators and the media.
The police, with the assistance of the Nigerian Maritime Safety Authority (NIMASA), also confirmed that the vessel had been removed from Nigeria’s maritime network since February 1, 2022 and did not have a valid permit to sail in Nigeria. I was able to prove that. Areas without a valid registration certificate and applicable trading certificate.
One of the sources further said, “The Indian nationals captured in Deep Frontline Shippers' CAC records are in charge of the company's finances and are also connected to 150 other corporate entities.” Ta. Kwale axis (name withheld) in Delta State.
“The registered address of Deep Frontline Shippers Ltd is 140, Umuseti Road, Kwale, Delta state and the registration number is RC: 885336.”
“A response from CAC dated January 29, 2023 regarding Sasuna Global reveals that the company’s records are not readily verifiable in the records. A response from CAC dated January 29, 2024 reveals that Deep Frontline Shippers Ltd was registered on May 5, 2010 and RC: 885336 was found to contain the following information:
“This is a limited liability company with a total share capital of N25 million,” said one of the police officials, who requested anonymity.
The report listed the names of the directors and their holdings in the company.
The leaders further learned that the investigation team led by Garba had made four recommendations to the IGP on changes to be brought against the suspect. These are conspiracy to tamper with an oil pipeline as defined in section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act 2010, and tampering with an oil pipeline as defined in section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act 2010. Conspiracy to traffic in petroleum products (without lawful authority or appropriate license) as defined in Article 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offenses of 2010 and trafficking in petroleum products as defined in Article 1(17). (without lawful authority or appropriate license) ) Miscellaneous Crimes Act 2010.
Contacted yesterday, IGP-STPIB’s Director of Investigations, CSP Omar John Sini, confirmed the arrest of the Lagos-based oil tycoon, saying he had been in police custody for the past seven days.
Mr Sini said charges had been filed and he would appear in court within the next few days.
Regarding the fate of the Indians, Mr. Sini said that the Indians must come forward to protect themselves or the police will pursue them if they do not comply with the investigation.
“We have invited three Indian nationals whose investigation revealed links to the arrested MT Kali, a former rear admiral and colonel who came on their behalf, and apparently their company's security. A former police ASP from the department claimed that the Indian nationals are currently out of the country and the ship in question, “MT Kali'', had been sold by the Indian nationals before his arrest.
“We told the envoys that they cannot speak for or represent the Indians and that they must return immediately to surrender themselves before the police or we will come after them. he demanded.
“We also asked them to come up with a new owner for the vessel, which they did. We hope to come forward,” Sini added in a telephone interview with our correspondent.
