Ogbolu Louis (Captain), Izuazu Anayo (Chief Engineer), Solomon Agbanoma (Able Seaman) and a depot manager, Olajide Kabir, are now cooling off in police net, after being apprehended weith 800,000 litres of adulterated diesel in Lagos, they were transporting with a marine vessel, Jazzi.
Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the men were arrested by IGP’S Task Force on Illegal Petroleum Bunkering, at a location in Kirikiri area of Lagos State.
“On February 6, 2017 at about 0217hrs, after a sustained surveillance and monitoring of MT Jazzi vessel and crew members sailing from the creeks of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, the IGP Task Force on Illegal Petroleum Bunkering unexpectedly swooped on the vessel and its crew members at a location in Kirikiri Area of Lagos State, arrested the vessel and the three crew members and the Manager of the Nakem depot where the illegally refined AGO (Diesel) was discharged.”
He also said the men would be prosecuted in court after investigation have been concluded.
However, when interviewed, Louis said he wasn’t allowed to get the necessary documents, showing the diesel was legally lifted, and that the product they were transporting wasn’t adulterated.
He also disclosed he was beaten with a machete during interrogation and forced to admit to committing the said crime.
“I have all the documents to prove that the product was legitimately lifted but the police did not allow me to get them. They beat me with machete and I had to sign a confessional statement that I lifted the AGO from Abonema creeks in order to save my life.”