The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday in Abuja auctioned one of the two confiscated oil tankers arrested in Abuja in 2014 as part of its war against oil theft.
The Commandant-General of the corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, supervised the public auction.
Abolurin said that the trucks were arrested in July, 2014, with stolen crude oil, and that the auction process was sanctioned by the court after the prosecution of the suspects.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday in Abuja auctioned one of the two confiscated oil tankers arrested in Abuja in 2014 as part of its war against oil theft.
The Commandant-General of the corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, supervised the public auction.
Abolurin said that the trucks were arrested in July, 2014, with stolen crude oil, and that the auction process was sanctioned by the court after the prosecution of the suspects.
He, however, explained that of the two trucks arrested, only one was auctioned, while the other one would be auctioned soon when the court proceedings were completed.
“We want you to know that we decided to do this in order to ensure transparency and due process so as to avoid any complaints and insinuations,
“ When oil vandals are arrested, we have a diligent process that we go through, this include: arrest; thorough investigation; prosecution and obeying court orders which may include auction of the confiscated items,’’ he said.
The NSCDC boss said that a committee on the auction process comprising the NSCDC, Army, Navy, JTF, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, EFCC, ICPC and DSS was responsible for the smooth process.
He said that similar seized items had been auctioned in other parts of the country such as Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Oyo and Abuja in line with due process.
Abolurin also warned oil vandals to desist from vandalising oil facilities as the NSCDC was ever prepared to deal with those caught in the nefarious act.
“We are warning oil vandals and their collaborators to desist from this act as the NSCDC is ever ready to arrest those involved in this menace.
The auctioned tanker with registration number: Kano XX754 KNK was auctioned to the highest bidder for N3.9 million naira while the second truck with registration number: Borno XA 574 DAM will be auctioned at a later date
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