A 57-year-old man, Patrick Umeh, and 41-year-old Adegoke Sunday have been arrested by Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly producing Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and other lubricants illegally at Gbekuba area in Ibadan, Oyo State.
This has led to the sealing of the premises where the discovery of the fake and adulterated products was made.
The arrest, Saturday Tribune learnt, was made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad in collaboration with the Oyo State command operatives on Thursday at about 3:35pm.
The state Commandant, Dr Michael Adaralewa, who took journalists to the suspects’ hideout in a building structure owned by Umeh at Gbekuba, where the transmission fluid, grease and other lubricants were being produced on Friday, said that the tactical team confiscated 2,500 litres poor quality and unapproved ATF.
The transmission fluid package had its head office address at Zone B12, Shop 25, ASPAMDA, Lagos, while the Ibadan branch address was given simply as Adedibu Street, Ibadan.
Also seized from the premises were several cartons of Golden Link 2T Super oil with office address as Ifeleye Market, Oke Padre, Ibadan, but discovered to have been adulterated from the original producer, Livico Umeh International which has its office at Podo Area of Ibadan.
Found within the premises were filled and empty drums used for the storage of illegally processed grease, a large quantity of chemicals used in the production of illegal products in an unhygienic environment, containers in which grease and the transmission fluid were being produced, several equipment and pressing iron said to be used to seal the transmission fluid.
The Commandant stated that the seized items would be taken to the relevant agency for laboratory analysis.
He added that efforts were ongoing to get other accomplices who are currently at large, while the two suspects would be charged to a competent court of law within the command’s jurisdiction after the conclusion of investigation.
“We want to assure Oyo State residents and the Nigerian populace that the conclusion of this investigation will expose other criminals involved in this act, and this will serve as a deterrent to other mischievous elements in our society.
“We want to caution our good people of Nigeria to be mindful of the kind of lubricants and fluid they use in their vehicles and machinery,” Dr Adaralewa advised.
One of the suspects, Umeh, in an interview with journalists, said that it was his manager, Sunday, who was first arrested before he arose with the thought of resolving the issue.
Giving many excuses, he said: “I started producing grease over 20 years ago. I also chose the name of the engine oil I wanted to start producing. I wanted to do it right so I sought information on what I wanted to do but has yet to get a response. So I don’t have approval yet. I produce the ATF and the grease in Ibadan only.
“I went to tell the relevant authority, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) about four years ago that I wanted to start producing engine oil in our premises but it said it would not be suitable for it. I was advised to go for third-party blending at a reputable and qualified company. I started in Mowe.”
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