The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has given the Commission’s assurance of collaboration with relevant stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, and the military in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes.
He gave the assurance on Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, when senior officers of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC paid a scheduled visit to the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt.
Speaking through the Acting Director of the Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Hassan Saidu, Olukoyede noted that it was 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 their duties.
He further noted that the EFCC and Navy have had good working relationship and collaboration over the years, adding that the synergy that exists between the two organisations have yielded positive results, especially in the areas of investigation and prosecution of crude oil thieves.
“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.
“We don’t have control of the waters. You are the only one who has the control and can maintain custody of seized vessels. We don’t have the capacity to do it,” he said.
Saidu attributed the successes achieved so far in the area of prosecution of those involved in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering to the synergy and strong collaboration that exists between the EFCC and the Nigeria Navy and the cooperation from the judiciary.
“All our successes in our investigations and prosecutions of illegal oil bunkers cannot be mentioned without the judiciary and Nigeria Navy. If you are not there to make the arrests and handover to us, we have nothing to do.
“I know how paramount the 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 said.
In his response, the Commanding Officer, NNS Pathfinder, M.I. Raji, while expressing delight with the visit, acknowledged the collaborative efforts and the synergy both organisations have enjoyed.
“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.
The Commanding Officer further stated that while the Nigeria Navy carries out its responsibilities on the waterways, makes arrests and has the primary responsibility to secure the maritime domain of the country, he noted that it does not have prosecutorial powers.
He further noted that growing the country’s oil revenue was part of the goals of President Tinubu’s government, which he said, can only be achieved if illegal oil bunkering, crude oil theft and other illegal activities of criminal elements in the maritime ecosystem are curbed. “We cannot make success if you are not there for us, and we for you,” he said.
(EFCC)
