NEC Approves Legal Task Force On Oil Thieves

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the establishment of a Legal Task Force (LTF) to prosecute cases of oil theft across the country.
The task force is to be headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Mohammed Adoke.
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the monthly NEC meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
According to Uduaghan, the task force is to be made up of representatives from the NNPC, the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, Police, SSS and other related agencies
He said the task force had been mandated to commence the prosecution of proven cases of oil theft, using relevant laws, particularly the “miscellaneous offences Act which carries a sentence of 21 years without option of fine”.
He said already, about 500 suspects had been apprehended over alleged oil theft across the country.
“You know that because oil thieves are not being prosecuted, it seems to give them the courage to steal more. A lot of arrest had been made.
‘’We hear that there are over 500 persons who have been arrested, that are involved in oil theft.”