The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched its Chemical Forensics Laboratory to make investigations more precise through the use of technology.
The event, which had the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede in attendance held at the commission’s Zonal Directorate in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Speaking, during the event, Olukoyede disclosed that the “state-of-the-art” chemical laboratory was established and equipped with the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation and that it would position the EFCC at the forefront of forensic analysis in the fight against oil-related crimes such as oil bunkering and adulteration.
According to him, the facility will empower the commission to independently carry out rigorous tests on petroleum products as the EFCC had relied heavily on external agencies for analysis of petroleum products and crude samples which led to delays in critical investigation.
“In the past, our investigations relied heavily on external agencies, including the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources for analysis of petroleum and crude samples. This dependency often meant a delay in critical investigations,” he said.
Olukoyede revealed that the facility took close to two years to realize; describing it as an achievement for the commission, and a national asset that enhances Nigeria’s capacity to combat complex economic crimes in the oil sector.
The high point of the event was the commissioning and inspection of the facility by Olukoyede; accompanied by invited guests.
In attendance were the Chief Judge of Rivers State; Justice Simeon Amadi, and representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Army, the Navy, and Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery among others.
