The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has advocated for the establishment of a specialized court dedicated to prosecuting individuals involved in oil theft within the nation. Mr. Michael Uzokwe, who serves as the Chief of Staff to the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, presented this argument during an investigative hearing concerning crude oil theft in Abuja.
Uzokwe emphasized that the protracted timelines associated with regular court proceedings are obstructing effective prosecution and hindering efforts to eradicate crude oil theft and other financial crimes. Consequently, he strongly recommended the creation of specialized courts to expedite the legal process for those apprehended for oil theft and related offenses, thereby enhancing recovery efforts.
Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Chairman of the Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft, also expressed his intention to form a sub-committee tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of the Molecular Power System (MPS) oil theft detection system. He indicated that the establishment of this sub-committee was essential due to the lack of recovery achieved thus far from the multi-million dollar contract, which includes a retainer fee of $5 million, yet has not produced satisfactory outcomes.
The sub-committee’s formation is a result of discussions with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and aims to explore strategies for reducing and ultimately eliminating oil theft incidents in Nigeria. Rep. Sada Soli, representing Ado-Doguwa, raised concerns regarding the continued use of the expensive MPS detection system, highlighting its failure to deliver results since its implementation.
He pointed out that certain influential lawyers, benefiting from the retainer agreements, are resisting changes to the system to protect their financial interests, fearing the loss of easy income should the contract be terminated. Soli also questioned the rationale behind the Attorney-General’s directive that payments to Nigerian lawyers practicing domestically should be made in dollars.
