The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has known as for the institution of a particular court docket to deal with instances of crude oil theft within the nation.
EFCC’s Director of Investigation, Abdulkarim Chukkol, made the decision through the investigative listening to of the Home of Representatives’ Particular Committee on Crude Oil Theft in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He stated over 400 instances had been charged to court docket in 2019, with 200 others prosecuted in 2022.
Chukkol averred {that a} particular court docket and modification of the authorized framework of the anti-graft company would assist EFCC in addressing the crude oil theft.
Earlier in June, the Group Chief Govt Officer of the NNPC Restricted, Mele Kyari, whereas calling for the help of the judiciary in tackling the dual challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, additionally really useful the institution of particular courts to be created for the offence.
Kyari made the decision on the Nationwide Judges Capability Constructing Workshop on the Petroleum Trade Act (PIA) 2021 organised by the Nationwide Judicial Institute (NJI) and INVESTIN 234.
In a goodwill message on the workshop, the GCEO famous that the advantages of the PIA have been considerably compromised by crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He urged the judiciary to think about establishing a particular court docket for these offenses or create means for expedited hearings for such instances.
In keeping with him, the function of the judiciary was important to the success varied safety preparations put in place by NNPC, legislation enforcement companies and different stakeholders within the business.
“Specifically, is the advice {that a} particular court docket be created to attempt these offences as they hinge on our survival as a rustic, and/or for such trials to be carried out below an accelerated listening to course of by the issuance of Observe Instructions to that impact, with concomitant sanctions to discourage would-be offenders,” Kyari had argued.