Petition Exposes Alleged Police Corruption in Oil Bunkering Case

Strategic Insights -

A petition to President Bola Tinubu has accused Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole, of shielding a suspect, Jide Afolabi, in an oil bunkering case while targeting the petitioner, Myson Nejo, and his client for arrest. The petition claims that Mr. Adewole protected Mr. Afolabi from prosecution for alleged crude oil theft after the latter's company chartered a tugboat to transport illegally obtained crude oil in 2023. Mr. Nejo alleged that Mr. Adewole intervened in the case, ordered Mr. Afolabi's release, and subsequently took action against him and his client.

Key Takeaways:

  • Myson Nejo, a lawyer, has petitioned President Tinubu accusing Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole, of shielding Jide Afolabi, MD of Nathern Energy Products and Allied Services Ltd, in an oil bunkering case.
  • The case began in 2023 when Nathern Energy Products chartered a tugboat to transport crude oil later discovered to have been illegally obtained.
  • Commissioner Adewole denied any wrongdoing, describing the complaint as blackmail and said the Rivers State Police Command only supervises when needed.
  • Myson Nejo alleged that Mr. Adewole intervened in the case, ordered Mr. Afolabi's release, and subsequently took action against him and his client.
  • The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently reported 149 oil theft incidents in one week across the Niger Delta region.
  • The federal government launched Operation Delta Sanity in December 2024 to combat oil theft in the region.
  • Myson Nejo attached several documents to the petition, including a memorandum of understanding signed by Jide Afolabi, and cited the latter's fundamental rights suit confirming a 10 million naira payment into Mr. Nejo's account.
  • The petition also alleged that the police obtained an ex parte court order freezing Mr. Nejo's bank account, despite Jide Afolabi's admission of liability and agreement to pay 40 million naira in compensation.

Statistics:

  • The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reported 149 oil theft incidents in one week across the Niger Delta region.
  • Operation Delta Sanity, launched in December 2024, aims to combat oil theft in the region.
  • Nathern Energy Products chartered a tugboat in 2023 to transport crude oil later discovered to have been illegally obtained.

Sources:

  • Petition by Myson Nejo, dated 17 October
  • Response from Commissioner Olugbenga Adewole, via text message on Saturday
  • PREMIUM TIMES report on Operation Delta Sanity, published in December 2024
  • Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) report on oil theft incidents, date not specified