By Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has blamed security agencies’ failure to eradicate oil theft in Nigeria on delayed court processes by the nation’s judiciary.

Hameed Bawa, Head, Assets Forfeiture Unit, EFCC, passed the blame on the judiciary, Wednesday at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri Naval Base, Delta State where Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman handed nine suspected oil thieves and a vessel, OMS OGU to the EFCC for prosecution.

Suleiman said, “The ship got a valid clearance by Navy to lift 10,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from Matrix, a private tank farm in Warri, but a naval patrol team allegedly caught the same ship and nine-man crew using the permit to lift diesel from a far off illegal refinery on August 28, in Kantu, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta state.”

Responding, Bawa said: “The challenge we have is the judiciary. Once we receive suspects and assets used for oil theft, we investigate and start prosecution immediately, but it takes a long time for a case to be concluded.”