The Nigerian Navy on Monday ordered the immediate release of Motor Tanker (MT) Praisel, to continue its operations in line with extant approvals.
MT Praisel was arrested in the Koko area of Delta State by a private security outfit owned by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo – Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL), on August 2 over suspicion of conveying stolen crude oil.
Nigerian Navy’s Spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said the order was issued around 7 a.m on Monday after five laboratory tests and analysis by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirmed the product to be High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO).
Earlier, the nature of the product onboard the vessel became a subject of controversy between the TSSL and some regulatory agencies.
Following the arrest, the vessel was taken to Escravos anchorage on August 3 for verification of the product and other investigations.
The Navy, on August 5, revealed its findings, saying in a statement that the product onboard the vessel was HPFO approved by the NMDPRA and not stolen crude oil as alleged.
The service added that its confirmation followed laboratory tests by relevant agencies, including itself, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), and the NMDPRA.
TSSL however raised posers about discrepancies on the destination of the Motor Tanker (MT) Praisel, insisting that “there were reasonable grounds to suspect the movement of MT PRAISEL in the opposite direction from the NMDPRA clearance seen.”
Tompolo’s company queried why the NMDPRA approved port of discharge (Lagos Offshore) was different from the Navy clearance point (Koko as storage) and why both were different from the port of discharge indicated in the Naval press statement (Bonny), insisting that the product was stolen.