NIGERIA SETS UP TASK FORCE TO PROSECUTE OIL THIEVES

The National Economic Council, has approved the establishment of a Legal Task Force to prosecute cases of oil theft across Nigeria.

The task force is to be chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke and will operate for only one year, with effect from July, while the prosecution of established cases would continue and all convictions given wide publicity.Briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan said 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 further said the task force had been mandated to commence the prosecution of proven cases of oil theft, using relevant laws.

The meeting also mandated the Governors of Bayelsa and Delta to meet with the concerned oil firms and the Joint Task Force to work out modalities for the effective repair of the Nembe and Trans Niger pipelines.