EFCC Urges Creation of Special Court to Expedite Trials of Oil Thieves

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for the establishment of a special court dedicated to prosecuting suspected crude oil thieves and addressing crimes within the oil and gas industry. This proposal was made during an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Special Committee on ‘Crude Oil Theft and Other Losses’ on Wednesday.

Michael Uzokwe, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, highlighted the challenges the commission faces in prosecuting suspects within regular courts. He emphasized the need for a special court to expedite the prosecution process, noting that despite the EFCC filing hundreds of cases, only a small number have resulted in convictions, with many still pending or recently filed.

Uzokwe pointed out that these delays are particularly problematic in the Niger Delta region, where oil-related crimes are rampant, and arrests occur frequently. The EFCC’s Niger Delta commands handle hundreds of oil-related complaints daily.

Supporting Uzokwe’s statements, EFCC Director of Investigation, Abdulkareem Chukkol, revealed that in 2019 alone, the EFCC brought over 400 cases to court, with more than 200 cases in 2022. Chukkol also mentioned that some cases are referred to other agencies for further action.

In response to inquiries from lawmakers, an EFCC official clarified that the commission rarely withdraws cases and typically appeals unfavorable judgments or stays of execution. However, when questioned about the utilization of recovered funds, the official was unable to provide immediate details but assured the committee that the necessary information would be supplied. He did note that President Bola Tinubu had recently indicated that approximately N100 billion had been released from EFCC recoveries.

During the hearing, Sada Jibiya, temporarily standing in for Committee Chairman Ado Doguwa, emphasized the importance of transparency in the recovery of funds, stating that these figures are reflected in the national budget.

Earlier, Doguwa reminded the attending agencies that the primary goal of the investigation is to unite all stakeholders in combating oil theft in Nigeria. He stressed that ongoing challenges in the oil sector must be addressed through collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders.

Doguwa also acknowledged that while the government has the political will to tackle these issues, years of neglect in the oil and gas sector have made progress difficult. The investigation aims to identify effective strategies to reduce oil theft and other criminal activities in the industry by gathering insights from key stakeholders.