A Delta State-based lawyer, Prof. O. G. Izevbuwa, has kicked against an alleged move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to auction a tugboat, MV Omas Success, owned by his client, Ocean Marine, which the anti-grant commission reportedly seized six years ago.
The lawyer has subsequently issued a 30-day ultimatum to the EFCC to release the tugboat, MV Omas Success, to his client, arguing that “while the EFCC Act vests some powers of seizure in the commission, such powers are only exercisable where a vessel has been found culpable.”
He said, “Our client’s tugboat was not involved in any wrong neither was it intended to be used in committing any crime.”
He consequently demanded from the EFCC a sum of N50 million, “being damages for the salvage and repairs of the boat, having been majorly submerged by water.”
In a protest letter from the lawyer to the EFCC, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Monday, Prof. Izevbuwa who led a team of other lawyers, F. I. Bob-Osaze (Mrs.), C. C. Udoala (Mrs.), J. E. Ibiomgbo Esq. and A. E. Iluobe (Miss), alleged that the EFCC had deprived their client “the use of the tugboat for the past six years,” adding that they were shocked when the EFCC displayed the tugboat for sale by auction few days ago and the client saw it.
The protest letter reads in part, “Our client is at a loss to understand why the commission has decided to take this unilateral move.”
Izevbuwa explained that in 2018, the tugboat was assigned by its owner to Egrangbene community, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State where dredging and canalization work was being carried out.
“The tugboat was detailed to move dredging equipment and hoses to other locations within Egrangbene community. The photographs of the tugboat, its operator’s permit, and other documents are attached herein as Annexures A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K respectively.’’
“Our client states that on their way back from Egrangbene community, the tugboat had mechanical problems when it was tied at New Jerusalem Christian Settlement within Egrangbene community.
“It was while awaiting repairs that men of the Joint Task Force, Warri Base, descended on the tugboat in a warlike manner. They then illegally and unlawfully towed it away.
“Our client states that it was while awaiting the release of the tugboat that it became aware that the tugboat had been handed over to the EFCC.
“Your commission subsequently invited the Managing Director of our client and some other workers in the company in the course of its investigation, through a letter dated 27th September 2018, with reference CR.3000/EFCC/BNZ/STF/278/VOL.6/100. A copy of the said letter of invitation and a copy of the letter dated 9th October 2018 written by our client’s solicitors asking for a re-scheduling of the interview is attached herewith as Annexures L and M respectively.”
The lawyer stated further that after a detailed investigation by the EFCC, it was discovered that the men of the Joint Tax Force who arrested our client’s tugboat were only on a voyage of mischief.
Also speaking with journalists, the owner of the tugboat, Mr. Owen Nanakumoh Esq, Chairman/Managing Director of Ocean Marine Services Limited, affirmed that “as we are talking, they’ve sold it (tugboat) amongst other vessels through auction, despite the receipt of this protest.”
Nanakumoh named the purported buyer of the tugboat from the auctioneer as Mr. Elo E.
He added that the buyer called the military when “our protest was brought to him before the Enerhen police, but the military threatened to deal with whosoever questions or interferes.” He disclosed that the buyer claims the order is from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. Nanakumoh said.
The tugboat owner therefore pleaded profusely that the Service Chiefs should intervene and ensure that justice is served.
Efforts to hear from the EFCC on the incident were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
READ ALSO: EFCC arrests three persons for naira mutilation in Asaba
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your great writing due to this problem.
You must participate in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this web site!
I?¦ll immediately take hold of your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me recognise in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your website accidentally, and I’m stunned why this accident didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
Throughout the great scheme of things you actually secure a B+ with regard to effort. Where exactly you lost me ended up being on all the particulars. You know, as the maxim goes, the devil is in the details… And it couldn’t be much more accurate in this article. Having said that, let me inform you what did give good results. The writing is definitely very persuasive which is probably the reason why I am taking the effort in order to opine. I do not make it a regular habit of doing that. Second, despite the fact that I can certainly see a jumps in reasoning you come up with, I am not really certain of how you seem to connect your details which inturn help to make the actual conclusion. For now I will, no doubt subscribe to your issue but hope in the near future you actually connect your facts much better.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually realize what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with my website =). We will have a hyperlink change contract between us!
The crux of your writing whilst appearing reasonable at first, did not sit very well with me after some time. Someplace within the sentences you actually were able to make me a believer unfortunately just for a short while. I nevertheless have got a problem with your leaps in logic and you might do well to help fill in those breaks. In the event you can accomplish that, I would surely end up being amazed.
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
I like this blog very much, Its a real nice berth to read and obtain info . “If at first you don’t succeed, you’re running about average.” by M. H. Alderson.
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with almost all important infos. I¦d like to see more posts like this .
Someone essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Magnificent job!
I’m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the difficulty is something that not enough individuals are talking intelligently about. I’m very completely happy that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing relating to this.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site. You have some really good posts and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Cheers!
Hello. magnificent job. I did not anticipate this. This is a great story. Thanks!
I like this blog very much so much fantastic information.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Excellent work!
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
I’ll immediately grab your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Merely wanna state that this is very useful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
It’s in point of fact a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.