EFCC uncovers illegal refinery allegedly run by Chinese nationals in Ogun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State.
The commission said its operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 discovered the facility on Saturday following intelligence and surveillance on suspected illegal sludge oil refiners.
In a statement on Tuesday, the EFCC said the premises were deserted when its operatives raided the facility, where they found waste products from the refining process and underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel,” the commission said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced black sludge from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to Ogere for processing into diesel for sale in Nigeria.
The EFCC said the operators allegedly used intense heat, chambers and filters to extract lighter petroleum components from the sludge oil.
It added that security personnel at the facility told investigators that the Chinese operators had neither disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the refinery.
The commission said it had taken over the premises as investigations continued to identify the operators, establish ownership of the facility and determine the extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage.
