Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri
Three suspects involved in illegal production and selling of motor grease and motor transformation fluid known as ATF, have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), in Imo State.
The suspects are Onyedikachi Nnachi, Daniel Eze and Udo Prince.
Nnachi, 31, hails from Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Eze, 41, is from Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, while Udo Prince, 20, hails from Isiala Ngwa council of Abia State.
Briefing journalists, the state Corps Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Danjuma Elisha, said the trio were arrested on February 9, at the Industrial Cluster, Phase I Naze community in Owerri North council of the state.
According to him, “Unlawful dealing and adulteration of petroleum products is contrary to section 17(b), 18(ii) of the Miscellaneous offences act.”
Elisha further stated that the eagle eye operatives of the corps arrested the trio at the scene of the crime following an Intelligence tip-off.
He continued, “Immediately my officers got wind of the crime, they swopped to the scene and got the trio doing the illegal job”.
One of the suspects, Daniel Eze, during interrogation by The Nigerian Xpress, said that they used diesel-base oil, viscosity index improper and dye as their raw materials for the production of the illegal grease and ATF.
According to him, they got their raw materials from Onitsha and Owerri respectively and supply their products to one Obinna in Umuahia and Nwa Aba in Bayelsa state.
According to Eze, “We don’t sell our products here in Owerri, because our major buyers are tricycle operators. We prefer to go outside Imo state because they banned the use of tricycle. We get our major market from the two cities.
“Things are too rough here in Imo and as starters we quickly need to get our returns for the whatever goods we have sold out”.
