EFCC Investigates MT Green Dolphin

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is to begin investigation and possible prosecution of MT Green Dolphin for alleged involvement in oil theft.

The prosecution will begin following a decision by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to hand over the vessel to the Commission. 

Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, director-general, NIMASA while speaking in Lagos recently on the handing over of MT Green Dolphin said that the vessel had had problems with NIMASA in 2011 and had been kept under the custody of NIMASA for about eight months until a court ordered for her release.

According to the NIMASA boss, “We have decided to keep surveillance on this vessel since that time. The vessel shuttles between Nigeria and Tema (Ghana) and does not report to us whenever she arrives or leaves Nigerian waters. She sailed into Nigerian waters in December 12, purportedly to effect repairs on her machinery and conduct sea trials, and information from her revealed that she was at anchor off Akassa Brass, and further document recovered from the vessel indicated that she discharged about 6,877 barrels of Bonny Light crude oil into another vessel offshore Tema on 13 January,” Akpobolokemi said.

According to him, six crew members and some contract staff were arrested with the vessel.

He claimed that some of those arrested allegedly had made confessional statements that the MT Green Dolphin had actually loaded 700 metric tonnes of crude from another vessel, the MT Vanessa off the coast of Benin Republic.