By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, has commenced investigations into two suspected oil thieves, Moses Michael Mufans and Abba Sunday, who were arrested for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licences.
According to an official statement signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the suspects were apprehended at Ikot Ekpene on November 4, 2025, by operatives of a Joint Task Force team comprising officers of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Military Cantonment, Mbiokporo, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. They were subsequently handed over to the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal Directorate on Friday, November 7, 2025, for further investigation and prosecution.
At the time of their arrest, the suspects were reportedly caught loading petroleum products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, from an underground storage dump at Olive Field Filling Station, Ikot Ekpene, into a white Iveco truck with registration number SMK 185 XB. An estimated 19,400 litres of the suspected illegally refined product were said to be stored in the underground dump.
Other exhibits handed over to the EFCC included the white Iveco truck loaded with approximately 3,287 litres of the AGO and the underground storage dump at the filling station containing about 19,400 litres of the same product. Additional items recovered were two Yamaha pumping machines, four suction hoses, a Mercedes Benz ML 350 with registration number KRF 287 EP, and a DAF 75 CF truck with registration number GGE 193 XG.
The handover ceremony was conducted by Colonel J.K. Adisa on behalf of the Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General N.E. Okoloagu. Receiving the suspects and the exhibits on behalf of the EFCC was Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE I Taiwo Adetona Habeeb, who represented the Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Oshodi Johnson.
Johnson, in his remarks conveyed by Habeeb, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for the confidence reposed in the EFCC and the strong spirit of inter-agency collaboration. He assured the military authorities that the Commission would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter and ensure diligent prosecution of the suspects in line with the EFCC’s mandate to curb economic and financial crimes.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to intensifying the fight against illegal oil bunkering, petroleum theft, and other economic crimes undermining Nigeria’s energy security and national economy.
