EFCC mustn't be used to shield crude oil thieves - Tompolo's firm

• Published date: 22 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

THE management of an oil pipeline surveillance company, Tantita Security Service, has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avoid being used by illegal oil dealers to stymie the fight against illegal bunkering.

The company gave the advice in the wake of the arrest of the head of its anti-illegal bunkering operations, and Director Operations and Technical, Capt Warredi Enisuoh, by EFCC operatives last Thursday.

The company, owned by Ijaw leader and Niger Delta activist, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, hinted that the timing and mode of Enisuoh's arrest smirked of plot to thwart its fight against illegal bunkering

In a statement yesterday, Tantina said it 'has been in the news for the amazing progress in returning Nigeria to pride of place as the leading oil producer in Africa. However, as we speak, efforts are being made to strangulate Tantita operations.

'On the 19th of January 2023, Tantita's Executive Director Operations and Technical Capt. Warredi Enisuoh was invited by the EFCC and detained. He has been in EFCC custody since.

'All efforts to ensure his release have proved abortive, as the Commission has insisted that unless he provides names of his intelligence sources he would not be released.

'The company expresses concern that the EFCC's move came in the heat of an ongoing operation to unravel one of the biggest oil-stealing cartels in the country.

'Capt Enisuoh, our ED Operations and Technical, flew straight from Port Harcourt (where he was coordinating the operations) to Lagos to heed the EFCC's invitation and walked right into a trap.'

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Tantina traced its director's ordeal to an ongoing legal tussle, for which a court of competent jurisdiction delivered a ruling in 2017.

'However as the...