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Reps Order Navy to transfer Rogue French Ship to EFCC to forestall its Disappearance

By on June 27, 2012

The House of Representatives have issued an order to the Nigerian Navy to handover the rogue french crude ship to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order to forestall disappearance of the vessel.

The ship, MT Vanessa, was arrested on the 9th of June for being illegally in possession of 8.5 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil.

The Navy has reportedly anchored the ship at Bonny in Port Harcourt. However the Reps Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Navy has ordered the Navy transfer the ship to the custody of the EFCC for safe keeping.

Jerry Manwe, a member of the committee said, “Now that one of the seized ships has disappeared and before the other one disappears again, I think we need to, as a matter of urgency, resolve to direct the Navy to hand over the ship to the EFCC for custody because we know that with EFCC, it will not disappear.”

A motion brought before the committee of the House on the fiasco reads, “The ship, MT Vanessa under the  study of Navy and anchored in Bonny be handed over to the EFCC within 24 hours.

“Also that the Navy must work with the EFCC to ensure the safety of the ship because the Navy has the capacity to ensure its safety”.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members of the committee.

Head of the Committee, Muraina Ajibola said, ” Though we were told that it contained 8.5m barrels of crude but we are not sure but we hope and pray that it has not disappeared.

“Why we are doing is because we are aware of two ships that were seized, one from Libya  escaped but the second ship is presently anchored in Bonny, Port  Harcourt.

“Whether right or wrong, what we were told is that it contained stolen crude of 8.5 million barrels; what are we securing if our resources are being stolen by some people, including foreigners?

“We are taking this measure because we don’t want to be told that it has disappeared.  On Saturday, I wrote to the Chief of the Naval Staff on the matter expecting him to to take it seriously and asked him to come and brief us over it this morning.

“Where is he now? His representative is telling us that he is attending a handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Defence. Which is more important to the country? Handing over ceremony of Ministers or a forum to throw light on what affects the economy?”

The Committee lambasted the Chief of Naval Staff for not appearing before it as requested and ordered his appearance along with the Chief of Defense staff. Failure to do so would attract sanctions.