Niger Delta region to desist from acts of oil theft and economic
sabotage.
He gave the warning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State while addressing the
Media. According to him, illegal oil bunkering is a terrible leakage
of the economy and the EFCC would not relent in fighting it. “Let me
also use this medium to warn all illegal oil bunkerers to desist from
their nefarious operations. The EFCC is resolute in its fight against
economic sabotage and oil theft. The Niger Delta is highly significant
to our national economy and the Commission will continue to do all that
is lawful and patriotic in ensuring that operators of illegal oil
bunkering are brought to book”, he said.
The EFCC Chairman, who is on a Working Visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal
Office of the Commission, stressed that illegal oil bunkerers would
face tougher times in the new year. He paid an inspection visit to the
6th Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, where vehicles forfeited
to the Federal Government by illegal oil dealers are being parked. Magu
explained that all the forfeited vehicles belong to the Federal
Government and the processes for their auction are still ongoing.
“All the vehicles forfeited belong to the government. The processes are
ongoing. We are following the processes stated in the Procurement Act.
We are not hiding anything. All the vehicles auctioned are still there.
The auction processes continue until payments and reconciliation are
made”, he said.
Magu commended the Media for its advocacy roles, stressing that it
remains an ally in the fight against corruption. He tasked Nigerians
to be more active in lending support to the EFCC so that economic and
financial crimes would be more frontally tackled. “This is a year of
decision. Every Nigerian must take ownership of the fight against
corruption”, he said.
On the issue of a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from
investigating officials of Rivers State government, Magu said that
events had overtaken the judgment and that there are several rulings
that had knocked off the injunction. “That judgment cannot stand the
test of time. The judgment is overtaken by events and there are several
judgments that had nullified the injunction. The matter is now in
Supreme court”, he said.