The Nigerian Navy has stated that the results of an inquiry into the claim that the Motor Tanker Praisel had committed oil theft revealed that the claim was completely false, unsubstantiated, and malicious.
Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, an ex-militant leader who runs the Tantita Security Service, raised concerns about the vessel on Saturday.
The security organisation stated that the ship intercepted by its troops should have been bound for Lagos and not Bonny, and that this was supported by the documents and intelligence it had obtained, including the naval clearance presented by the ship’s master.
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Tantita was reacting to a statement by the Nigerian Navy on Friday which claimed that the vessel was duly approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to load 1,114,721 litres of High Pour Fuel Oil from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty Koko from July 26 to August 8.
The Director Information Naval Headquarters, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan disclosed that this was contrary to the allegation of oil theft by the vessel in connivance with Nigerian Navy personnel.
However, in another statement on Sunday, Ayo-Vaughan noted that Tantita’s intelligence in respect to the vessel and its product was wrong.
He added that the issue reflected the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct of the Tantita Security Service personnel.
The statement partly read, “As of Saturday 5 August 2023, the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT Praisel by all agencies including NMDPRA indicate that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.
“This result, therefore proves that the allegation and suspicion were totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous.
“The intelligence TSSL claimed to have received about the vessel and its product is equally wrong. This singular incident brings to the fore the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct of TSSL with its attendant negative consequences for the supplier and buyer of the product, the vessel hired to convey it, and other parties involved in the legitimate business.”
