The Department of State Services (DSS) said Saturday, it has arrested Ifeanyi Ubah, Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited. A statement by Tony Opuiyo, of DSS announcing Ubah’s arrest said the move was in line with the statutory mandate the agency to investigate economic crimes of national security dimension.
According to the DSS “The arrest was sequel to Ubah’s engagement in acts of economic sabotage which include stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank farm by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). So far, it has been established that the products stolen amount to over Eleven Billion Naira (N11bn). There is no doubt that Ubah’s acts have the capacity to negatively impact on national economy.
“It is instructive to note that UBAH has further engaged in other activities inimical to national security and public order. In furtherance of his gimmicks to undermine the government and people of Nigeria, he has incited members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum Industry, to refuse, stop the lifting of products.
The DSS statement said “This is part of his plans to curry their sentiments and cause them to embark on strike and also stage protests in his favour with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products. The implications of this on law and order is, in fact, a common knowledge. It is consequent upon this that the Service arrested and will prosecute him forthwith.
According to the DSS,”The public is hereby reassured that the Service will collaborate with appropriate agencies to ensure that the mischievous activities of any person or group(s) to engage in illegal activities will not affect the effective distribution of products across the country. It will also support such agencies to bring to book individuals or companies involved in any criminal act that undermines the nation’s economy.”
