The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked the Inspector-General of Police to remove a senior police officer from an investigation involving a detained vessel, MT. THOR, pending an independent probe into allegations of misconduct.
The group accused the Head of Investigation of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Products Theft, CSP Omar John Sini, of disregarding police directives, ordering the interception of the vessel and allegedly attempting to dispose of it despite ongoing court proceedings.
HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, made the demands at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
He said the association was acting on a petition dated October 26, 2026, submitted to the IGP by lawyers P. O. Onucheyo and S. D. Omede on behalf of MT. THOR.
According to the petition, the vessel was being towed under Marine Police escort to the Marine Police Jetty in Warri, Delta State, on December 15, 2025, when officers attached to the Special Prosecution Team allegedly intercepted it.
The lawyers said the vessel was already in the custody of the Admiralty Marshal of the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division, and was being moved to prevent possible damage.
HURIWA asked the police chief to establish the authority under which the officers intervened and determine whether their actions complied with existing court orders.
"Police powers must be exercised transparently and within established legal limits, particularly when an operation involves property already subject to court proceedings," Onwubiko said.
The association also questioned the arrest and prosecution of four maintenance workers identified as Ebor Eric Kessiena, John Atawo Lawrence, Godwin Okpaje and Mukaila Sarumi.
Their lawyers maintained that the workers were employed to pump accumulated water from the vessel's engine room to prevent flooding or sinking, disputing allegations linking them to crude oil theft and illegal petroleum dealings.
HURIWA further urged the IGP to investigate the alleged detention of the four men for more than six months at the Okere Correctional Centre in Warri and review their arrest, arraignment, remand and bail records.
The group also raised questions about an analysis reportedly prepared by Sini on December 12, 2025, three days before the vessel was intercepted and the workers arrested. It asked the police to examine the document's origin, methodology and evidential basis.
Another issue raised was an alleged disregard for correspondence from the Force Intelligence Department requesting the transfer or coordination of the investigation.
HURIWA also expressed concern over claims that there were moves to auction or sell MT. THOR while litigation involving the vessel remained pending.
It cited Suit No. FHC/W/CS/65/2024, involving EBENCO GLOBAL LINK LTD. and MT. THOR, among other parties, and urged the police to establish whether any valuation or sale arrangement had been authorised.
The association also asked the IGP to verify a reported Federal High Court order in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Daylop Pam, directing the arrest and production of Sini over alleged violations of the fundamental rights of the four workers.
Among its demands, HURIWA called for an independent investigative panel, temporary removal of Sini from the matter and referral of any established misconduct to the appropriate disciplinary or prosecuting authorities.
It stressed that the allegations against the officer remained unproven and should be determined through an impartial investigation.
"The fight against petroleum theft and other economic crimes must be conducted through credible investigations, admissible evidence and strict adherence to due process," Onwubiko said.
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