Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dissociated itself from the activities of a certain Messrs. Pinnacle Trading & Investment Nig. Ltd., who it said, have been parading themselves as auctioneers purportedly appointed by the Commission to dispose of impounded petroleum products aboard MT Good Success and MT Asteris.
Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, warned the public to refrain from engaging in any activity in relation to the auctioning of any vessel or petroleum product on behalf of the Commission, as EFCC has not duly authorised anyone to act on its behalf in that regard.
Uwujaren said “the sources of the fraudulent letter of engagement being paraded by Messrs. Pinnacle Trading & Investment Nig. Ltd. are currently being investigated, with a view to bringing them to book.”
The vessels and their operators, the statement read, were arrested by the Nigerian Navy, for engaging in illegal activities and handed over to the EFCC.
“By virtue of two judgments of Justice I.N Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on 15th December, 2015, their operators were convicted and the vessels and their contents totalling 4,882.097 metric ton of Premium Motor Spirit and Crude oil, forfeited to the Federal Government.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, EFCC has not entered into any contract with, nor appointed Messrs. Pinnacle Trading & Investment Nig. Ltd., to act on its behalf on any matter, whatsoever.”
The EFCC also warned that anyone found to be parading himself as an auctioneer or agent under whatever guise in respect of the vessels MT Good Success and MT Asteris and their contents, should be reported to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.