The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for the creation of a Special Court dedicated to prosecuting suspected crude oil thieves and addressing other crimes within the oil and gas industry,Daily Trust reports.
This request was made by EFCC officials on Wednesday during their appearance before the House of Representatives Special Committee investigating ‘Crude Oil Theft and other Losses.’ Speaking at the hearing, Michael Uzokwe, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, highlighted the challenges the Commission faces in prosecuting suspects due to delays in the judicial process, emphasizing the need for a Special Court to expedite these cases.
Uzokwe pointed out that while the EFCC has filed hundreds of cases across various courts, only a small number have resulted in convictions, with many cases still ongoing and new ones continuously being filed. He stressed that these delays, particularly in the Niger Delta region where most of these crimes occur, are hindering the swift administration of justice.
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Supporting these claims, EFCC Director of Investigation, Abdulkareem Chukkol, mentioned that the EFCC’s Niger Delta commands handle hundreds of oil-related crime complaints daily. He noted that in 2019 alone, over 400 cases were brought to court, with more than 200 cases in 2022. Chukkol also acknowledged that some cases are referred to other agencies.
In response to a question from Committee member Rep. Gambo Leko, an EFCC official stated that the Commission rarely withdraws cases and typically appeals any judgments against it or stays of execution. When asked about the utilization of recovered funds, the official admitted that he did not have the information at that time but assured the committee that the EFCC would provide the necessary details. He did, however, mention that the President had recently indicated that around N100 billion from EFCC recoveries had been released.
Rep. Sada Soli Jibiya, who briefly stood in for Committee Chairman Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, emphasized the importance of making recovery figures public, as they are included in the national budget. Earlier, Chairman Doguwa reminded the agencies that the primary goal of the investigation was to unite all stakeholders in the fight against oil theft in the country. He stressed that the ongoing challenges in the oil sector require urgent attention from both stakeholders and the government, noting that addressing these issues could significantly boost production and revenue.
Doguwa concluded by stating that while the government has the political will to tackle these problems, years of systemic issues in the oil and gas sector have created obstacles. The investigation, he said, aims to gather the best possible information from stakeholders to mitigate the effects of oil theft and other criminal activities in the sector.
