BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

WARRI— MEN of the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta, yesterday, handed over to the Interpol three suspects and a ship, MV Gare, alleged to be involved in oil theft and had been in Navy custody since March.

The suspects, who were received by Interpol Officer, Soji Idowu at the NNS Base in Warri, Delta State, include Takorade Doghor, Captain of the Ship; Williams Aseghiecwhen, Engineer and Oakporaye Osagada, Seaman.
The Commander, NNS Delta, Navy Capt Musa Gemu, while handing the suspects over, said “The ship was used to hijack a very bigger ship, MV Karela to siphon about 75 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil, AGO, from the ship, about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Angola.”

Meanwhile, the suspects have sued the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief of Naval Staff and Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta for N100 million over alleged unwarranted detention without trial.

Counsel to the suspects, Mackson Oruma, said: “We filed the suit before the Federal High Court, Warri. My clients are a boat captain and a crew member of a marine vessel, MV Gare owned by Bernard Edewor detailed to supply food to another ocean going vessel in January within Nigeria waters.

“They were hijacked by armed men, driven into high sea with all seven crew members seized and their communication gadgets confiscated by the hijackers later discovered to be illegal bunkerers.”