EFCC, DSS Oil Swap Investigations: ANEEJ Offers Technical Assistance

By Alltimepost.com

African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, has offered to assist the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Department of State Security (DSS) in the investigation of the shady deals involving oil swaps by yet to be identified persons and institutions in Nigeria.

The frontline environmental/rights group wants to participate and join ranks with the anti-graft bodies by providing hard information and technical advice that could lead to the apprehension and prosecution of those involved.

The organization made its intention known on Monday in a press statement issued in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor.

It stated as follows: Recall that in October 2014, ANEEJ engaged policy making institutions like the National Assembly to encourage it stop the obnoxious practice of swapping crude oil for already refined crude products. ‘It is area ridden with sleaze and secrecy and corruption.

Nobody knows who benefits from the deals and our struggle has been to bring to an end the rampant cases of impunity going on in the NNPC oil for refined crude deals,’ Leo Atakpu, leader of the ANEEJ team that presented a position paper to the clerk of the National Assembly, Mallam Sidi Ibrahim, said.

At the several meetings with the NASS, ANEEJ had called on the House of Representatives to commit to leading Nigerian citizens to fight oil swap by pushing for investigations and prosecution of Nigerians that are involved in the oil deals.

‘That the DSS and the EFCC have waded into the corruption in the swaps is a great relief and a strong indication that the government is ready to take action and checkmate the nefarious deals.

But nothing can be as gratifying as when you know that what you have fought hard to achieve is gradually getting the attention that it rightly deserves’, ANEEJ executive director, David Ugolor has said.

“Our struggle to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the NNPC is finally paying off, and we are particularly pleased that so many reports concerning the rot in the NNPC oil for products are getting released,” Ugolor said.

“ANEEJ therefore seeks to partner with these anti-corruption agencies by providing incisive and analytical data and information that could help to apprehend, prosecute and incarcerate anyone found to be wanting with respect to the oil swap deals.

“We have technical experts from Switzerland ready and willing to put the benefit of their expertise to bear in unraveling the secrecy behind the oily deals,” Ugolor said.