W.Africa Crude - More Angolan cargoes clear, Forcados offered slightly higher

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The West African crude market saw more Angolan cargoes finding buyers on Thursday, although rising freight rates could weigh on cargo values.

Around 10 Angolan cargoes were left for February, a trader said.

On Tuesday, only half of the 29 crude oil cargoes for February had found buyers.

In another sign that demand might be picking up, Nigeria's Forcados was offered at around dated Brent plus $3.00, slightly higher from between plus $2.60 and $2.80 quoted at the end of December.

Freight rates were however rising, the trader added, which could weigh on pricing.

In the wider market, Nigeria's anti-graft agency will press ahead with a probe into the former head of the downstream oil regulator Farouk Ahmed, even after billionaire Aliko Dangote's lawyers withdrew a petition that triggered the investigation, a spokesperson said on Thursday.