Oil theft: Two expatriates on the run

By Tokunbo Oloruntola, Lagos

With agency report

Two expatriates, a Greek and a Lebanese, identified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the ring leaders in the theft of crude oil from the facilities of oil producing companies in the Niger Delta, are said to be on the run.

The commission is also holding 10 executives of some small oil companies in its custody in connection with the daily theft of an estimated 100,000 barrels of crude oil.

Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, the commission's chairman and chief executive, who disclosed this, also called for the removal of immunity from prosecution being enjoyed by the President, the Vice-President and the 36 state governors if the nation is serious about combating official corruption.

In an interview with a foreign news agency, Ribadu failed to disclose the identities of the two fleeing expatriates and the 10 detained oil executives. He, however, said those detained have yet to be charged to court.

The investigations that led to their arrests, he explained, began last May in Cote d'Ivoire, Brazil and Cameroun.

In Cote d'Ivoire, Ribadu said they stumbled on a list of Nigerian companies selling crude oil there, adding that the list formed the basis of further investigations in Nigeria.

He said the investigation was being extended to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and several other governmental bodies in charge of sale of oil products and security.

Claiming to have received several death threats since assuming office, Ribadu canvassed for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to strip the President, Vice-President and the 36 state governors of immunity from prosecution.

Said he: "How can you give immunity to the very few individuals who by law are entrusted with the responsibility of spending public funds. The law says you cannot in anyway question them, not to talk about prosecuting them. If we are serious about this problem of corruption, this is the starting point."