The
Department of State Service said in Abuja on Saturday, that oil magnate, Chief
Ifeanyi Ubah is in its custody.
It said
that Ubah, who has questioned some weeks ago, was again arrested on Friday over
his alleged engagements in acts which the security outfit described as inimical
to national
security.
The DSS
stated
this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, in
Abuja on Saturday.
Ubah, who
is the managing director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, was accused of
stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank
farm by the Nigeria Petroleum Products Corporation.
Opuiyo
put the cost of the oil at more than N11bn, adding that such acts were
impacting negatively on the national economy.
He said
that the arrest and the detention of Ubah was sequel to the power giving the
DSS to investigate economic crimes of national secure dimension.
The
statement said, “In line with the statutory mandate of
the DSS to investigate economic crimes of national security
dimension, the Service, on May 5, 2017, arrested Ifeanyi Ubah,
Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited.
“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
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.”
He added that Ubah had further engaged in other activities
which he said were initial to national security and public order.
For example, the oil magnate was accused of inciting members
of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers to embark on strike because of his (Ubah’s)
investigation by the DSS.
Opuiyo said that this was part of the plans by the detained
businessman to curry the favour of the public and force the government from
going on with the recovery of the funds in his care.
The statement said, “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, a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum
Industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products.
“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.”
Opuiyo assures that public that the service would
collaborate with appropriate agencies to ensure that
mischievous activities of any person or group(s) to engage in illegal
activities will not affect the effective distribution of products across
the country.
He added that the service would also support such
agencies to bring to book individuals or companies involved in any
criminal act that undermines the nation’s economy.
punch
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