South-South Youths Finger NUPENG, IPMAN Members In Oil Theft

The South-South Youth Initiative (SSYI) has accused top members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Independent Petroleum Marketeers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) of involvement in illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region.

This is as it insisted that the outgoing commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State, Michael Besong Ogar, auctioned trucks that were arrested while conveying illegal petroleum products, based on the orders of the court.

Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, SSYI national president, Comrade Imeade Saviour Oscar, described the action of NUPENG and IPMAN members who blocked a major road leading to the NSCDC state headquarters in Port Harcourt, as contempt of court.

Imeade said, “Ogar has never acted on his own volition without having the backing of the law establishing NSCDC, the Constitution of Nigeria or Court pronouncement or judgement.

“In recent case that prompted the protests by members of NUPENG and IPMAN, a Court of competent jurisdiction before His Lordship, Hon. Justice S.I. Mark, in Port Harcourt, had based on Suit: FHC/PH/MISC/470/2022, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation against some unknown owners of abandoned tankers, gave an interim order for the forfeiture of three trucks involved in illegal business to the federal government.

“His action was totally justified because he only acted based on the order of court as sought by the federal government that he represents. His actions in the stated court order above were backed by law.

“But, we do understand that the underlying fact that beats our imagination is that some top members of NUPENG and IPMAN are involved in oil bunkering. It is like a case of corruption fighting back because the top members understand that Ogar has remained a bone in their throats and they wanted him out by all cost.

“We are calling on the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, not to allow self-centred politicians and individuals to be the deciding factors of his action against his men and officers. Rather, his actions should be guided by facts and professionalism.”