“Remove all abandoned ships or lose them”, NIMASA orders owners.

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

149

In a bid to ensure safe and secure shipping on the Nigerian territorial waters, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has warned all owners of abandoned ships/vessels to urgently remove same from the Nigerian territorial waters on or before April 28 or risk sanctions ranging from forfeiture or removal by the agency at the owner’s expense.

The Director General of the Agency, Dakuku Peterside, who stated this recently in Lagos noted that it is instructive to ensure that our waters remain safe for navigation in order to advance our maritime interests.

He, therefore, warned that all abandoned ships would be declared as wrecks and the agency would ensure that nothing impedes safe navigation in Nigerian waters by removing them.

“In line with our mandate on the protection of the marine environment and safety of navigation within Nigerian waters and our powers as the receiver of wrecks; owners of all abandoned ships, vessels and derelicts are sternly warned to seek removal plan permits from the Agency and ensure the removal of these wrecks and derelicts from our waters on or before April 28th, 2017 failure of which would attract appropriate sanction,” Mr. Peterside said

He also reeled out the sanctions to include removal of such wrecks at the owners’ expense as well as forfeiture of the vessels stating that the agency is empowered to do so in line with the powers vested in it by the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 and other enabling Acts and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments.

It should be noted that Nigeria is party to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi Convention 2007). The Convention is a treaty of the IMO with the purpose of prompt and effective removal of shipwrecks located in the parties’ territorial waters including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that may be hazardous to navigation or environment. The convention gives States’ Authority to remove wrecks and in Nigeria’s case NIMASA is the receiver of wrecks.

All abandoned vessels littering the waterways and the shoreline of the country are affected by this directive, the agency said.

The management of NIMASA has constantly expressed the agency’s commitment to ensuring a safer waterway for Nigerian maritime stakeholders to conduct their business.

Source: Premium Times

NIMASA fraud: EFCC withdraws charges against four accused

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday struck out the names of four accused charged with N3.4 billion fraud alongside a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

Mr. Akpobolokemi, a former D-G Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, was charged with nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on fraud.

Other accused charged with him are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

Also charged with him are two companies: Al-kenzo Ltd., and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd.

They were arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu and had all pleaded not guilty to the charges and granted bail by the court.

However, following the transfer of Mr. Saidu from Lagos to the Port Harcourt division of the court, the case was re-assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji.

On Friday, the prosecuting counsel, Festus Afeyiodion, informed the court of an amended 22-count charge, in which the names of four accused had been withdrawn.

The four accused withdrawn from the charges are: Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.

He urged the court to strike out the names of the four accused, while a fresh plea by the remaining accused should be taken.

The counsel to Mr. Juan, Ige Asemudara, expressed mixed feeling while reacting to the withdrawal.

Mr. Asemudara said that his client had been tormented, embarrassed, and emotionally tortured for the past two years on account of the charges.

He said that the damages done to Mr. Juan’s career and his family, were monumental, but gave all the glory to God.

Consequently, Justice Faji granted the prayers of the prosecution, and struck out the names of the four accused.

Meanwhile, another defence counsel, E.D. Onyeike, raised an objection to the appearance of the prosecutor (Afeyiodion) on the grounds that he could not prosecute without a fiat.

The court has, however, fixed March 17, for arguments on whether or not the prosecutor had a right to prosecute.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between December 2013 and July 2015.

They were alleged to have converted over N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA to their personal uses.

The offences contravened Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Amendment Act., 2012.

Source: NAN

N8.5 billion fraud: Former JTF Commander, ex-NIMASA boss re-arraigned

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday re-arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, Emmanuel Atewe, and three others over N8.5 billion fraud.

Mr. Atewe is charged alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and two other staff, Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.

The accused are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on fraud.

Their re-arraignment was sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Saliu Saidu, from Lagos to the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High court.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the plea of the accused were taken afresh before the new judge, A.O Faji.

The defence counsel urged the court to allow the accused to continue on the earlier bail granted by the previous judge.

Based on the applications of the counsel, the judge ruled that the accused should continue on their bails.

At the last adjourned date, the EFCC had examined a prosecution witness, Adamu Yusuf, who told the court how the accused converted about N4.9 billion to dollars.

Mr. Yusuf said the accused used different companies and accounts to launder billions of money from the account of the Joint Task Force Operation.

The witness further testified that during investigation, letters of request were sent to GTbank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic-IBTC Bank, as well as First City Monument Bank (FCMB) demanding the account statements of beneficiaries of the account.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using six companies, namely — Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd, Jagan Global Services Ltd, Al-Nald Ltd, Paper Warehouse Ltd, Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015 in contravention of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The court has fixed February 13 and February 17 for commencement of trial.

Source: NAN

N136 million fraud: Court reserves judgment in trial of NIMASA boss

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, reserved February 21 for judgment in a no case submission filed by ex-acting Director General of NIMASA, Calistus Obi, charged with N136 million fraud.

The trial judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, fixed the date for judgment after hearing arguments from both defence and prosecuting counsels on an application for a no case submission.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had preferred an eight count charge against Mr. Obi

Mr. Obi, who was also an Executive Director of NIMASA, was charged alongside one Alu Dismas, a former personal assistant to ex DG of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

They had however pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million each.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, defence counsel, Wale Akoni, informed the court of his application for a no case submission filed on December 2, 2016, on behalf of the first accused.

He said that his application was urging the court to hold that the prosecution had not made out a prima facie case to secure the conviction of the accused.

Explaining the content of his application, Mr. Akoni argued that a prima facie case could only be said to have been made out only in relation to the essential ingredients of the offence charged.

He said: “The test is, what are the essential elements of each of the offence, and what evidence has been brought in support.’’

He submitted that it was not sufficient for the prosecution to have gone on a wild goose chase and brought out all manners of evidences before the court without doing more.

He urged the court to uphold his no case submission on behalf of his client, and issue an order discharging him.

In the same vein, counsel to the second accused, Joseph Nwobike, also urged the court to uphold the no case submission of his client and discharge him.

He argued that the charges against his client were predicated mainly on conspiracy and conversion, adding that the prosecution had not made out sufficient evidence in proving an agreement to commit the offence.

He said that to prove the offence of conspiracy, the prosecution must lead enough evidence to show “agreement” between the accused to commit an unlawful act or to commit a lawful act by an unlawful means.

He stressed that the prosecution had not made out a prima facie case against his client, and urged the court to so hold.

In response, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo objected to the no case submission of defence counsels, and urged the court to call upon the accused to enter their defence.

He queried: “Can it be said that from all evidences tendered in this court and admitted as exhibits A to Z, there is nothing linking the accused to the offences? I disagree.”

Oyedepo argued that the evidences on record showed that funds were transferred to the first accused and further evidences led proved that these funds were not administered for official purposes.

He submitted that these evidence were substantial enough to establish the complicity of the first accused in the charges.

In relation to the second accused, Mr. Oyedepo submitted that the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against him.

He argued that from the evidence of prosecution, “it is clear that it is the second accused who knows the company called Coster Mega Concept, to which the dollar equivalent of N111 million was transferred’’.

Mr. Oyedepo said that the second accused also nominated the accounts into which the funds were paid.

He submitted and urged the court to have a glimpse at the totality of evidences adduced by prosecution before arriving at a conclusion whether same can secure a conviction.

After listening to the submissions of counsels, Justice Olatoregun adjourned the case to February 21 for judgment.

In the charge, the accused were said to have committed the offence on August 5, 2014.

They were said to have conspired to convert the said sum which is property of NIMASA, and knowing same to be proceeds of stealing.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Source: NAN

Trial of ex-NIMASA boss, Jauro, fixed for January 24.

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed Jan. 24 for continuation of the trial of a former Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, who is facing a N304.1 million fraud charge.

Jauro, who assumed leadership of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd on 19 counts bordering on fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants, who were arraigned on April 12, 2016, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

NAN also reports that the case which was scheduled for continuation of trial was stalled on Friday as the court could not sit.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun was said to be away on an official assignment, while the trial was rescheduled for Jan. 24.

Jauro took over as DG of NIMASA from Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is also being prosecuted alongside others over alleged multi-billion naira fraud.

The EFCC alleged that Jauro and others had conspired to defraud NIMASA of N304.1 million between January 2014 and September 2015.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused converted the amount to their private use, an offence which contravenes the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Source: Guardian

N2.6 billon NIMASA fraud case adjourned to February 28

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned the trial of a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and five others, till February 28.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the case for cross-examination of the last prosecution witness.
Mr. Buba expressed regrets on the adjournment on the grounds that he had ensured his punctuality in court to attend to the sole case on his diary even though the day marked his birthday.

“I am 59 years old today, and I am here in court, prepared to go on with the matter, hoping we would make progress.
“If I had this idea that the court will not sit, then, I wouldn’t have bothered.

“This is the only case listed in my diary for the week, and I came here in the hope that there would be a remarkable progress,” Mr. Buba said.

Mr. Akpobolokemi, a former chief at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and five others were arraigned on a 22-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The accused persons allegedly converted to their own use N2.6 billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
The other accused persons were Captain Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

The offences contravened sections 15 (1), 15 (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012.
The trial of the accused was earlier slated for January 9 to January 13, for the defence counsel to cross-examine the 11th witness for the EFCC, Chukwuma Orji, and for continuation of trial.

However, on Monday, the witness was unavoidably absent from court, following his trip to the United Kingdom with the Acting Director-General of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, for a meeting with the National Crime Agency.

The counsel representing the prosecution, Marcel Umeh, informed the court that he got the information very late, adding that all inconveniences were regretted.

In response, one of the defence counsel, Edoka Onyeke, expressed dissatisfaction with the adjournment and prayed the court to issue a date in February that would be convenient to all parties.

Other defence counsel aligned themselves with the submissions of Mr. Onyeke.

Sahara Reprters: How NIMASA Sponsored Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia On Juicy Foreign Trips

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The embattled high court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who is facing a 30-count charge of bribery and money laundry, was treated to lavish foreign trips by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, while presiding over cases where the agency was either a party or had interest, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively reveal.

Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia held so much sway over NIMASA under the leadership of Patrick Akpobolokemi that the agency flouted its own employment policy simply to grant the judge’s daughter, who is an employee of the agency, a curiously extended study leave.

Interestingly, Mr Akpolobokemi alongside other officials of NIMASA is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laundering N1.2 billion.

In four of the charges against the Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, the EFCC alleged that she received a bribe of N5 million from senior lawyer, Godwin Obla, around May 21, 2015 with the aim of “perverting the course of justice in respect of suit number FHC/L/C/482C/10.

“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 10th and 30th day of May 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $130,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income,” one of the charges against the duo read.

In the suit FHC/L/C/482C/10, a former director-general of NIMASA, Raymond Omatseye, was charged with N1.5 billion fraud involving bid rigging and contract splitting. The case was handed over to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia in November 2012 after the original judge in charge, Binta Nyako, was transferred to Makurdi, Benue State.

On May 21, 2016, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, sentenced Mr. Omatseye to five years in jail after finding him guilty of 24 out of the 27 counts of the charge. She specifically ruled that Mr. Omatseye awarded contracts above stipulated threshold.

Mr. Omatseye insisted he was innocent and has since approached the Appeal Court for a review of the judgment.

Ironically, Mr. Obla, who is now facing corruption charges alongside Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, was the counsel for the EFCC, which prosecuted Mr. Omatseye.

The EFCC has now claimed that Mr. Obla offered Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia a bribe of N5 million to declare Mr. Omatseye guilty. The anti-graft agency claimed that the senior lawyer, transferred the alleged bribe from the account of his company, Obla and Company Limited with United Bank for Africa, to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia through the bank account of Nigel and Colive Limited in Diamond Bank.

The EFCC said the judge and Mr. Obla acted contrary to sections 64 (1) and 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

Mr. Omatseye, who was placed on suspension while he was facing trial, alleged that forces within NIMISA did not want him back to his post and were ready to do anything to, including securing a bogus conviction, to keep him permanently away from the agency.

NIMASA LARGESSE FOR OFILI-AJUMOGOBIA

PREMIUM TIMES’ investigations have revealed a clear conflict of interest on the part of Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia while presiding over the controversial case.

Apart from the case involving Mr. Omatseye, further investigations show that the controversial judge got other largesse from NIMASA while presiding over cases involving the maritime agency.

Documents, including official internal memos of NIMASA and travel documents, seen by this reporter revealed that the judge, who is also on the blacklist of the National Judicial Council for professional misconduct, accepted curious lavish favours from NIMASA while presiding over a $400 million suit between the maritime agency and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).

NIMASA had dragged the management of the NLNG to court claiming the gas company ought to pay 2 per cent cabotage and 3 per cent freight levies worth $400 million for shipping by Bonny Gas Limited, a subsidiary of NLNG.

At the time Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia was adjudicating the suit between the two agencies, her daughter secured a plump job at NIMASA. The judge also stood as her daughter’s guarantor so that she could be granted an undeserved study leave to pursue a medical degree in South America, in clear violation of the agency’s recruitment policy.

NIMASA also sneaked the judge’s name into its delegation attending two workshops, which are of no relevance to judicial officials, in the United States in 2013 and 2014.

PLUM JOB AND DUBIOUS STUDY LEAVE

On February 7, 2013, just before the judge began entertaining arguments from the prosecution and the accused – having adjourned hearing a couple of times from November 2012 when she was handed the case – Aribim, her daughter, secured a plum job as Medical Services Officer II at NIMASA.

According to NIMASA’s employment policy, a confirmed member of staff may only apply and be granted study leave with pay after he or she has spent at least two years of continuous service at the agency and maximum period of the leave should not be more than two years.

Similarly, an employee may be granted up to four years of study leave without pay if he or she has put in at least two years of continuous service at the agency.

Worried about a large number of employees applying for study leave, the management of the agency decided to place additional hurdles before applicants.

In an internal memo, NIMASA/APD/I.1, dated August 11, 2014, and signed by M.O Thomas on behalf of the director of administration and personnel services, the agency resolved to only grant study leave with pay to only confirmed employees that have put in five years of continuous service at the agency. Staff with less number of years of study could from then only apply for study leave without pay.

But in a shocking twist just over a month later, on September 24, 2014, the management of agency, for no apparent reason at the time, sent out another memo that not only overruled the requirement for embarking of study leave, stipulated in the August 11, 2014 memo, but further loosened the agency’s original requirements for employees going on study leaves.

“Further to our memo Reference NIMASA/APD/I.1 dated August 11th, 2014 on the above subject matter, I have been directed to inform you that unconfirmed staff with Third (3rd) Class and ordinary Pass degrees willing to embark on Masters degree programmes are free to do so without recourse to the minimum requirement of 5 years of continuous service in the agency as earlier stipulated in the memo under reference.”

But two letters written by the judge’s daughter and addressed to NIMASA’s administration and personnel services seen by this reporter soon revealed why the management of the agency had strangely overruled itself just a month after tightening its requirements for study leave.

On August 15, 2014, less than two years after she resumed work at NIMASA, Aribim wrote to the management of NIMASA informing it that she has secured admission into the Direct MD programme (MBBS) at Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana, a tiny South American country that shares borders with Brazil and Venezuela.She further requested to be allowed to embark of a study leave.

It is not clear if she was aware of the directive sent out just four days earlier, which effectively precluded staff members with less than five years of service from going on study leave; but it is believed that she was aware of the agency’s original rule allowing only confirmed staff who have put in up to years of service to take study leaves.

“Examine in line with current policy, please,” read a handwritten note on her letter signed on August 20, 2014, by the deputy director of the human resources department.

Apparently, Aribim’s request was rejected. But soon after the memo of September 24, 2014, was published, she submitted another application for study leave. In her letter, which was wrongly dated 21st July 2014, she revealed that she graduated with a Third Class Bachelor of Science degree.

But this time, she did not only request for study leave with pay for 48 months, but she also requested that the agency pay her tuition fees.

“With reference to the memo from the AD (Training), Reference NIMASA/I.1 dated September 24th2014 on “REVIEW OF THE CRITERIA FOR STUDY LEAVE WITH PAY AND STUDY LEAVE WITHOUT PAY”, I would like to apply for study leave with pay to enable me improve on my current qualification of Bachelor of Science with honours, Third (3rd) class degree,” she wrote.

“I recently secured admission to study the Direct MD Masters Programme (MBBS) at Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana. Sent along with the said letter was a Statement of Fee for which as stated thereon, the first year tuition fee is Nine Thousand Eight Hundred USD ($9,800), and the accommodation fee is Seven Thousand Two Hundred USD ($7,200).

“I would be grateful if you would kindly approve my study leave with pay for the attendant period at Texila American University (a). If (a) above is approved, also consider favorably, approval of disbursing my tuition and accommodation fees to the institution,” she added.

Contrary to Aribim’s description of the course of study as a Masters degree program, PREMIUM TIMES investigations show that it is actually a Bachelors Doctor of Medicine degree.

On its website, Texila American University described the course as follows: “Doctor of Medicine degree program is a four-year course that provides students the opportunity to learn medicine in a state-of-the-art MD school in the Caribbean.”

On November 21, 2014, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, who was her daughter’s guarantor, signed a bond promising that her daughter will attend the course for which she was granted the leave of study and return to the employment of NIMASA after the completion of her studies in September 2018.

Lami Tumaka, head corporate communications of NIMASA, said she was not aware of the study leave granted Ms. Ajumogobia but added that if her case was true, the agency would investigate it.

“I am not aware of the case you mentioned about Aribim Ajumogobia. However, I can say with all sense of responsibility that all staff of NIMASA are guided by the Agency’s Conditions of Service and the Public Service Rules (PSR) which have specified length of time staff must have been in the employ of the Agency before long-term study leave will be granted. If the case of Abirim Ajumogobia is different, then it is an exception and not the rule. This will be investigated.”

Lavish Foreign Trips

Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia did not only draw lavish favors for her daughter from NIMASA, but she also enjoyed some herself.

In 2013, the Federal Ministry of Transport approved some officials of NIMASA, three of its own officials and a Godfrey Bivbere, a journalist with the Vanguard, to attend the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, United States.

However, Mr. Akpolobokemi, without clearance from the Ministry, gave a verbal directive for the inclusion of five people, including Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, to be included as part of the NIMASA delegation with lavish travel arrangements and estacode.

“Recall your verbal directives for the inclusion of other stakeholders for the participation in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2013 holding from May 6-9, 2013 in Houston, Texas, USA,” read a letter from the deputy director public relation department to Mr. Akpolobokemi as the director-general of the agency.

“The additional list of stakeholders include 1. R. Ajumogobia (Mrs.), 2. Mohammed Shittu Abubakar, 3. Binta F.M Nyako (Mrs), 4. Chief Mrs. R. Chris-Garuba, 5. Mrs. Mary Madu Hamman

Interestingly, the first three names on the list are federal judges with Mrs. Nyako being the judge who initially handled Mr. Omatseye’s case. Of the others, Mrs. Rita Chris-Garuba is the wife of the former military governor of Bauchi State, Chris Garuba. She and her husband were implicated in the notorious Halliburton bribery scandal. Mary Hamman is the chief shipping development officer at NIMASA.

An estacode of at least, $6,369.00 was approved for each of the additional persons. Travel document also seen by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia flew to the conference on a British Airway business class flight to the conference.

Again in 2014, the judge was included in a contingent that included NIMASA officials, federal lawmakers, journalists and two other federal judges, Elizabeth Osoka and Shittu Abubakar to attend the Advance Programme on Implementation and Protection of Maritime Infrastructure workshop in Washington DC, US.

It was an all-expense paid trip. Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia also she received $5,400 estacode for attending.

While no reason was given for the inclusion of the judges to attend the 2013 conference in Houston, an internal memo written on April 16, 2014, gave a reason for the inclusion of the judges as part of the contingent to the 2014 workshop.

“Given the importance of this workshop and the high-powered nature of the participants, it is the recommendation of the undersigned that some eminent jurists also be included on the trip to provide them insight into the workings of the Agency and the subject of international ship and port facility security (ISPS) code.”

The NIMASA spokesperson defended the sponsorship of judges for conferences by the commission despite the inherent conflict of interest contained therein. Mrs. Tumaka said it is not unusual for the agency to sponsor judges, journalists, and lawmakers to seminars and workshops overseas to assist them “come to full grasp with the workings of the sector.”

She, however, did not say whether it was ethical for the agency to include Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia at the time she was presiding over two cases the agency had an interest in.

She said while it is normal to communicate instructions verbally, approvals, such as the inclusion of Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia on the trip to Houston Texas are usually done in writing.

ALLEGATION OF VICTIMISATION

During his trial for the N1.5 billion contract scam, Mr. Omatseye said in court that he was being persecuted by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke, for declining Mr. Adoke’s request to discontinue the NIMASA suit filed against the NLNG.

Mr. Omatseye said, “In December of 2010, I was approached by a gentleman, who at that time was the Executive Director of the Cabotage Service of NIMASA, in the name of Ibrahim Zailani.

“Zailani told me that he had been in a meeting with the AGF and that the AGF had directed him to tell me to withdraw a case between NIMASA and NLNG.

“I told him I could not do so because that was the decision of the board.

“Exactly on November 14, 2010, between noon and 1.00 p.m., in my office, I received a call from a gentleman called Tunde Ayeni.

“He said hello, hold on for your caller and then handed the phone over to a man who said he was Adoke.

“The man said, ‘I sent Zailani to you to withdraw the NLNG case, and you have refused-

“He said, ‘Mr. President has called me twice on this matter to instruct you to withdraw this case.

“I responded to him, ‘My AGF sir,’ either you, please send me a memo to that effect or please send a message through my minister to direct me accordingly.

“I am not in a position to unilaterally withdraw the case.

“He said ‘I am the chief law officer of the Federal Republic’ and I replied, Sir, please help me to do as I have requested.

“He asked if I was aware that there was a directive from his office that no government institution can sue another government institution without his permission.

“I told him that the NLNG is majority-owned by foreigners and, therefore, cannot be considered as a government parastatal or agency.

“At that point, he said to me, ‘I have given an instruction, and you have refused to obey.’

“This will be your waterloo.”

Mr. Omatseye added that 10 days after his tense telephone chat with the former minister, three officers of the EFCC arrested him for interrogation, flew him to Abuja and confronted him with a petition against him from the minister of transportation.

Mr. Omatseye claimed the contract approval threshold for NIMASA was N2.5m for supply and N5m for goods and services. He added that these thresholds were not stipulated as at the time he approved the contracts.

He argued that the contracts he was convicted for awarding were approved between December 2009 and February 2010, but the threshold for NIMASA was only put in place by the Bureau of Public Procurement in November 2011.

‘How Akpobolokemi, others converted NIMASA’s N4.9b into dollars’ – EFCC

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adamu Usman Yusuf, yesterday told a Federal High Court, Lagos that about N4.9 billion was converted into United States dollars by the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Patrick Akopobolokemi and others charged with money laundering.

Akopobolokemi is standing trial alongside a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta. Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over a N13 billion fraud.

Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the court that during an investigation, it was discovered that the money was handed over to the third and fourth defendants (Engozu and Otuaga).

Yusuf told the court that the defendants used different companies and accounts to launder billions of money from the Joint Task Force operation account.

The companies are Jagan Limited; Jagan Trading Company Limited; Jagan Global Services Limited; Al-Nald Limited; Paper Warehouse Limited; Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited and De-New link Integrated Services Limited.

The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the alleged fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

He said during an investigation, letters of request were sent to GTB Bank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank as well as First City Monument Bank (FCMB) demanding for account statements and operating documents of beneficiaries of the accounts.

Earlier, the EFCC in an amended 22-count charge alleged that the defendants sometimes in 2014 in Lagos converted to personal use N8, 537, 586, 798.58 property of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

They were also alleged to have between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015 converted to personal use the sum of N2,006,270,930.67 through Jagan Limited, property of NIMASA among other charges.

The matter has been adjourned till February 3, 2017 for continuation.

N47.6bn fraud: Absence of prosecutor, witness stalls Tompolo, Akpobolokemi’s trial

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The scheduled trial of an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for an alleged fraud of N47.6bn was stalled on Thursday due to the absence of the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo.

Keyamo wrote to the Federal High Court in Lagos, where the trial was taking place, to ask for an adjournment on the grounds that his main witness was not available for Thursday.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, adjourned the case till December 13 and 14, 2016 for trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had, on April 18, 2016, arraigned Tompolo in absentia on 22 counts of alleged N47.6bn fraud.

Also arraigned in absentia in relation to the alleged fraud were six brothers of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi. They are Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement.

Tompolo, Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement were declared as being “now at large” when the charges were read before Justice Buba on April 18.

But Akpobolokemi himself, two females – Josephine Otuaga and Rita Uruakpa – and one Kime Engozu, who were also listed as defendants in the amended charge, were present in court on April 18 to answer to the charges.

The other defendants in the charge are five companies, namely: Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE; Oyeinteke Global Network Limited; Wabod Global Resources Ltd.; Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd.; Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd.; and Watershed Associated Resources.

The charges bordered on conspiracy, advance fee fraud and money laundering. But the defendants who were in court pleaded not guilty to all of them.

At the hearing on Thursday, one of the defence counsels, Mr. Oyesoji Oyeleke (SAN), informed the court of a preliminary objection he filed on behalf of his client, challenging the competence of the charges.

Oyeleke is contending that the prosecution had failed to depose to an affidavit stating that it had concluded its investigation before filing the charges.

For this failure he is urging the court to strike out the entire 22 counts filed by the EFCC against his client.

Another defence counsel, Mr. Sylvester Ekweme, representing one of the Akpobolokemi’s brothers, Clement, also informed the court of his client’s bail application pending to be heard.
Ekweme said his client had been in detention since April.

Justice Buba adjourned till November 10, 2016 to take the two pending applications.

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to defraud the Federal Government between December 2, 2014 and April 10, 2015, by inducing the Federal Government to deliver an aggregate sum of N11.9bn to them.

The EFCC claimed that the accused persons induced the Federal Government by “falsely pretending to the Federal Government that a parcel of land and its appurtenances situated at Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State had been acquired by NIMASA for the temporary campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”

By allegedly making fraudulent and false representations to the Federal Government, the EFCC said, the defendants violated Section 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related Offences Act 2006 and were liable to punishment under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

In another count, the EFCC accused the defendants of fraudulently converting a sum of N13,027,564,822 belonging to NIMASA to their private use sometime in 2014.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The defendants were also accused of swindling the Federal Government to the tune of N11.940bn, by presenting a forged Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy of Bendel State of Nigeria dated May 6, 2014 to NIMASA on the false claim that the forged document was genuine and issued by Warri South-West Local Council, Delta State.

For the alleged offence, the EFCC said the defendants were liable to being punished under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

How NIMASA transferred N8.5bn to JTF – EFCC witness.

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Teslim Ajuwon, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under Patrick Akpobolokemi as Director General, moved the sum of N8.5 billion, into the account of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

Ajuwon, a Compliance Officer with a first generation bank, stated this in his evidence at the commencement of trial of a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.

Atewe is being tried alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over N8.5 billion fraud.

They are been prosecuted by the EFCC on 11 counts bordering on the offence.

Ajuwon, led in evidence at the resumed hearing in the case, the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, narrated that on the whole, NIMASA made an in-flow of cash to the tune of N8.5 billion into the account of the JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

He informed the court that between September 5 and 16, 2014 a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the said account, into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East Point Services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd.

NIMASA ex-boss used committees to launder funds – EFCC

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Kanu Idagu, yesterday narrated how committees set up by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were used to launder funds running into billions of naira, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Idagu, testifying as a prosecution witness gave the evidence at the resumed trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of NIMASA. Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on the offence.

Others charged are Captain Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari. Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd. They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the witness told the court that as head of the EFCC Special task force, he co-ordinates investigations, as well as carry out searches and arrest.

He told the court that the force received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, of some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was DG.

According to him, his team embarked on the investigation and in the process, discovered that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through companies and the bureau de change.

He said that specifically, a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second accused, with an Access Bank account Number 0688939609, opened for the receipt of monies.

The witness said: “Between December 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into N1.5 billion.“The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the director of finance and accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence-based security activities.

“The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA workers for their personal use.”He told the court that one of such companies was Aler Integrated Services Ltd, whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

“Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change company, which the second accused instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into. The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.”

After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to present documentary evidence. Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to December 15 and 19 for continuation.

Witness tells court how Ex DG of NIMASA, others laundered billions of Naira

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Kanu Idagu, in the ongoing trial of former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and nine others yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how the defendants set up some committees to launder billions of naira belonging to the agency.

Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.

Others facing the same charge are: Captain Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.

Idagu, an operative of EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, told the court that as head of the EFCC Special Task Force, he co-ordinates investigations, as well as carries out searches and arrest.

The witness also informed the court that the force received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, of some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was DG.

According to him, his team embarked on investigation and in the process, discovered that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through companies and bureau de change.

Idagu further testified that a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second accused, with an Access bank account number 0688939609 opened for the receipt of monies.

He said, “Between Dec. 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into 1.5 billion.

“The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the director of finance and accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence based security activities.

“The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA staffs for their personal use,” he said.

He told the court that one of such companies was Aler Integrated Services Ltd, whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

“Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change company which the second accused instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into.

“The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics.”

Reps Grill Peterside Over NIMASA’s $5bn Debt Recovery Contract

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The House of Representatives Committee on Marine Safety on Tuesday grilled the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, over a controversial contract to recover NIMASA’s alleged $5bn debt.

A firm, SNECO Financial Services, which was incorporated on April 4, 2016, was awarded the contract.

The House committee, which is chaired by Mr. Umar Bago, is in possession of petitions, alleging the breach of due process and fraud in the award of the contract.

One of the petitions clearly stated that under the terms of the contract, SNECO would take 13 per cent of the recovered debts, a figure the committee queried for being “huge.”

Lawmakers observed that this would be about $65million profit for the firm.

Bago said, “We have the petitions here. The petitioners consider this a waste of public funds.

“Why will NIMASA engage another firm to perform its functions? Why do we have staff in NIMASA? What is their work?”

Another member of the committee, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Mr. Dan Asuquo, directed Peterside to produce the audited account of the firm.

“What is the pedigree of SNECO?

“Where is their audited account? We want to know their owners,” he added.

But, Peterside, a former member of the House, told the session that NIMASA complied with all due process requirements in awarding the contract.

He explained how the Bureau of Public Procurement awarded a certificate of no objection on the contract.

However, Peterside, denied that he ever mentioned that NIMASA’s debt was $5bn or $10bn as had been quoted by some persons.

According to him, the agency’s debts from 2004 to 2016 was $420.55m.

He wondered how the petitioners arrived at the $5bn that was quoted.

He spoke more, “I never said that NIMASA was owed $5bn. The entire volume of shipping trade in Nigeria in the last four years is nothing close to $10bn.

“We complied with every provision of the Public Procurement Act.”

But, lawmakers were not satisfied with his explanations and insisted on holding a full investigative hearing on the controversial contract.

“DG, there will be an investigative hearing. So, you can speak on those questions that you have answers to give now.

“On those questions that you are not ready to answer, please prepare fully and come during the investigative hearing,” he said.

Credit:http://punchng.com/reps-grill-dakuku-peterside-nimasas-5bn-debt-recovery-contract/

NIMASA to continue to sponsor indigenous maritime capacity – Peterside

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency will continue to encourage and sponsor the development of indigenous maritime capacity, regulate maritime safety and maritime security for both domestic and ocean shipping.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said this in a message to the 5th Annual Conference of the Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture Division, held in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is: “Accelerating the Growth of Nigeria’s Non-Oil Sector In a Period of Economic Challenges – The Maritime Perspectives.”

Peterside, who was represented by the Head, Emergency Service of NIMASA, Hakeem Oderinde, said the topic was indeed well thought out at this time when the country was facing economic challenges.

He said it also became imperative as engineers responsible for the design, construction and repair of marine vessels and offshore structures.

Peterside said that the marine engineers’ experiences were crucial to the emergence of novel ideas that would enhance the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

Peterside said: “As you are all aware, our nation in recent past had witnessed a remarkable rise in maritime activities due to higher volume of trading and increased oil and gas production.

“However, this is not the case today with the slump in oil prices. This makes it critical for us to continue to strive toward enhancing the technical expertise in our maritime Sector in order to maximise our gains.

“The Nigerian Society of Engineers is doing the needful by creating this veritable platform for maritime experts and related professionals to collectively initiate ideas toward enhancing the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil sector.”

Peterside said there was no need to restate the challenges of developing Nigeria’s maritime industry adding that ample investment opportunities remained untapped in the maritime sector.

He said: “The history of the Nigerian maritime sector is replete with the exploits of the Nigerian National Shipping Line but essentially incomplete without special mention of the roles of marine engineers.

“The marine engineers who managed the companies’ vessels all over the world, you have continued to play active roles in shaping the sector as crew on board ships.

“Also as entrepreneurs who have ventured from the troubled waters to the calm but yet challenging seats of executive management.

“We sincerely appreciate your contributions and implore you to sustain the efforts toward developing the Nigerian maritime industry.”

Peterside said that Nigeria had not fully harnessed its potential in the maritime industry due to inadequate technical expertise in maritime-related technology and administration; making the conference most welcome.

Peterside also said: “There is no doubt in my mind that there is a general consensus among the captains of industry here present that we need to do more for the maritime industry in Nigeria.”

He, however, said that the co-operation and synergy being pursued among maritime-related bodies would enable the maritime industry to be more progressive.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of MENA, Charles Otuonye, said that there was the need to map out a 16-year Nigeria Maritime Development plan, which would formulate sustainable development of maritime policies.

Atuonye said that the 16-year plan would also feed many Nigerians by minimising the rate of unemployment in the 21st century.

He said that Nigeria was blessed with territorial sea with Exclusive Economic Zone of several nautical miles as well as a vast area of Inland coastal and international waters as well as vast agricultural area of land and hinterlands.

The Chairman of MENA said that diversification was not only on agriculture, adding that the maritime industry was huge and more economical; nearer or bigger than the agricultural sector.

Otuonye said: “About 80 per cent of crude oil in Nigeria is drilled from the maritime environment and apart from oil, there are several other minerals which can be exploited.

“The sea is the greatest mother of life. This is the right time for Nigerians to have a re-think and strategise on a robust and sustainable way of diversifying our economy in the direction of maritime industry.

“The maritime industry will avert further drift toward economic depression because depression is a deep and long-lasting recession.”

He urged Nigerian marine engineers to train and invest more in ship building, repair, propulsion, ship scrapping, management, re-cycling, research, administration and other ship operations.

Otuonye said that countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China were experts in ship manufacturing, which had created millions of job opportunities for the youth and the teeming populations.

In his paper presentation, Basil Ajala, said that there was need for creation of

more shipyards to enable Nigerians to build bigger vessels like India and other countries.

Ajala said that ALANG is the biggest shipyard in the world and situated in India, adding that the costs of living and regulation interference affected many nations for not being among ship building countries.

NIMASA: N97m Was Transferred To My Account For Forex – Bank Official

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A Bureau-de-Change operator, Wakili Daudu, on Monday told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere how N97.1 million was paid into his account by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) without executing any contract for the agency.

Daudu, who spoke through an interpreter, said this at the ongoing trial of former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Apobolokemi, and six others.

Akpobolokemi was araigned alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoeni and a company — Gama Maine Nigeria Ltd.

The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 13-count charge bordering on stealing N754.7 million meant for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member- State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

Daudu, a prosecution witness, was led in evidence by Mr Rotimi Oyedipo before Justice Raliat Adebiyi.

He said he was contacted by a man, Mohammed Darlington, who told him that his boss, Ezekiel Agaba wanted to change some money into dollars.

The witness said that on Oct. 30, 2014 the sum of N35. 7 million was paid into his account by Darlington, who claimed to be working for the second accused.

He further stated that on the same day, the sum of N61. 4 million was also paid into his account.

Daudu said the money was changed into dollars and handed over to Darlington.

Adebiyi adjourned the case till May 10 for continuation of trial.

(NAN)

N47.7bn NIMASA Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Tompolo, Seven Others In Absentia

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) monday arraigned the former Niger Delta militant, Government Oweize Ekemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, in absentia before a Federal High Court in Lagos on a 22-count charge bordering on fraud, conversation of money and forgery.

Also arraigned in absentia were siblings of the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, who was also arraigned before the court.
The Akpolobokemi’s siblings were: Igo Akpolobokemi, Julius Akpolobokemi, Stephen Akpolobokemi, Victor Akpolobokemi, Norbert Akpolobokemi, Emmanuel Ebizimo Akpolobokemi, and Clement Akpolobokemi.

While those arraigned alongside the former NIMASA Director-General were: Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga and Rita Uruakpa.

Also docked with Akpolobokemi are seven limited liability companies which include Mieka Dive Training Institute LTD/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited, Wabod Global Resources Limited, Boloboere Properties Estate Limited, Gokaid Marine and Oil and Gas Limited, Muhaabix Global Service Limited and Watershed Associated Resources.
The EFCC in charge number FHC/L/C/31c/2016, alleged that the accused persons had in sometime 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court with an intend to defraud, conspired among themselves and obtained the total sum of N47,683,464,822 from the federal government.

The accused persons also alleged to have between May 6, 2014, and December 2, 2014, forged and uttered a Certificate of Customary Rights of Occupancy of the old Bendel State of Nigeria, and purportedly issued same to NIMASA, claiming that it was issued by Warri South Local Government Council, Delta State, to the prejudice of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

They were also alleged to have received sum of N11,900,000,000 from the federal government, by falsely pretending that all the land and its appurtenances lying and situated at Mieka Diva Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South council area Delta State, be acquired by the NIMASA, for the temporary campus of Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South, council area is from encumbrance.

The offences, according to EFCC prosecutors, Mr. Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to sections 8, 1(b) of Advance Fee Fraud, 18 (a), 15 (1) of money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012, and punishable under section 1 (3), 15(3) of the same Act, and 1(2)(c) Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the federation 2004.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their lawyers, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Mr. inaji E. U. and Mr. Oyesoji Oyeleke, urged the court to admit them to bail in liberal term. Nwobike and Inaji, particularly, pleaded with the court to allow their clients, Akpolobokemi and Kime Engozu, to continue with the bail terms granted them in other criminal charges they have before the court.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, while conceding to the request of Nwobike and Inaji, however admitted bail to Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa in the sum of N50 million with one surety each. The surety, according to Justice Buba, must show evidence of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, and sworn to affidavit of means, while the two accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till May 30 and 31 for trial.

Credit: Thisday

Court Reserves Judgment In Trial Of Ex-NIMASA Boss

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, reserved its judgment in the trial of Raymond Omatseye, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

EFCC operatives Omatseye is facing trial over alleged bid rigging and N1.5billion contract scam filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2010. The accused pleaded not guilty to the 27-count charge and had been granted bail on self recognition.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia reserved judgment in the trial after lawyers to the prosecution, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) and the defence, Mr Edoka Onyeke adopted their final addresses.

The judge said that the date for judgment would be communicated to parties. Onyeke, had in his address urged the court to discountenance the arguments of prosecution and dismiss the charge against his client.

He argued that the prosecution had not been able to proof its case beyond reasonable doubt. Onyeke said that out of the 27-count-charge against the accused, 25 dealt strictly with the issue of approval of contract above the threshold while the remaining two were on bid rigging.

He noted that the prosecution did not proof that exhibit PD 16, which it relied on in dealing with the issue of threshold, got to NIMASA at the time the contracts were awarded. On the issue of bid rigging, Onyeke argued that by the provision of sections 58 (10) (a) of the Public Procurement Act, the offence of bid rigging cannot be committed by a single individual.

He argued that throughout the length of trial, the prosecution failed to call any witness to proof the alleged collusion of the accused to commit bid rigging. Onyeke urged the court to discharge and acquit his Client.

Obla, on the other hand, urged the court to hold that the case of the prosecution was “as clear as daylight, and has been proven beyond reasonable doubt”. On the issue of failure of prosecution to lead evidence as to conspiracy to commit bid rigging, Obla submitted that the facts of the case spoke volumes.

Credit : Vanguard

FG Appoints Peterside As DG NIMASA

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Federal Government on Thursday appointed Dr Dakuku Peterside as the Director General of Nigerian Maritime administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

A statement signed by Yetunde Sonaike, the Director, Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation in Abuja said that the appointment was with immediate effect.

Peterside was the governorship candidate of APC in April.11, 2015 governorship election in River state and also a former member, House of Representative from 2011 to 2015.

According to the statement, Peterside has a Doctorate Degree in Management Science from the University of Port Harcourt and MBA in Business Administration.

He also holds a Bachelor Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.MLS) in Hematology from Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

Credit: NAN

We Are Still Looking For Tompolo, IG Of Police Says

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, says the Nigeria Police Force is still searching for former Niger Delta Militant Leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo who has been declared wanted by the EFCC over a N45.9b fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday February 17th, Arase said the Police commissioners in Delta, Rivers, Edo and others have been issued the warrant for his arrest

“We are still looking for Tompolo. The commissioners of police in Delta, Rivers and all those areas have been given the warrant for the arrest so that they could carry out the arrest. The EFCC has declared him wanted and you know the court has issued a warrant of arrest. So, it is the duty

N2.6bn Fraud: Fashion Designer Got N546m From NIMASA

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The trial of an ex-Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and five others continued before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday with a bureau de change operator, Hussein Sabo, testifying against them.

The defendants are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly converting to their personal use a total of N2,658,957, 666, belonging to NIMASA between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.

They were on December 4, 2015 arraigned on 22 counts in relation to the offence before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

The accused — Akpobolokemi, Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited — however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Sabo was the 3rd witness to be called by the EFCC, which opened its case on Monday to prove its allegations against the accused persons.

Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, Sabo, who spoke in pidgin English, told the court that one Muhammed Darlington approached him in March 2014 and told him that the 2nd defendant (Agaba) wanted to buy dollars.

The bureau de change operator said Dalington subsequently took his account number after which huge sums of money were paid into it in several tranches.

For instance, Sabo claimed that he received four payment alerts on March 3, 2014 for the sums of N33.8m, N35m, 20m and 3m, which he helped the accused to change into US dollars.

He also claimed that between March and December 2014 he received six payments in the sums of N85,305,000, N155,300,000, N13,000,000, N10,000,000, and N84,000,000, which he also helped the accused to change into US dollars.

Earlier, a fashion designer, Chukwuemeka Onuoha, who testified as the EFCC’s second witness, had told the court that the defendants used his company, Extreme Vertevex Limited, to siphon N546,802,000 from the coffers of NIMASA under the guise of a non-existent contract.

Onuoha told the court that though he neither tendered any proposal nor carried out any contract for NIMASA, N546,802,000 was paid by NIMASA into his account with Zenith Bank Plc.

The witness claimed that the disbursement of the money was facilitated by the 3rd defendant (Nwakuche) who he knew when he was in secondary school.

Onuoha narrated to the court how in 2003, shortly after the 3rd defendant secured an employment with NIMASA, he (Onuoha) approached the 3rd defendant and pleaded with him to consider him for any contract in the agency.

He claimed that shortly after he made the request, the 3rd defendant called him on the telephone to enquire if he had any registered company that could be used for transactions as well as the company’s accounts.

Onuoha told the court that not long after he supplied the details of his company and his bank account to the 3rd defendant, he received several alerts from his bank totaling N546,802,000.

For instance, he told the court that in August 2014 he received N21,802,000; on November 6, 2014, he received N318m; and on November 25, 2014 he received an alert for payment of the sum of N207m into his bank account.

He added that when he enquired from the 3rd defendant what the money was meant for, he was told to wait for further instructions.

Onuoha told the court that he was later instructed to transfer the money to different accounts by the 3rd defendant.

Under cross examination by Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Onuoha, however, told the court he had never met Akpobolokemi or received any money from him.

Justice Buba has adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 2,5, 16 and 19, 2016.

Credit : Punch

Gbolahan Yusuf: Between The Rule Of Law And Common Sense

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

My first taste of injustice was served to me on the dusty streets of Ifako-Ijaiye, the neighborhood where I grew up. I recall how I and other kids my age played football on the streets, amidst the echoes of honking cars and screaming hawkers, and no memory stings more than that of how some of us, after having arrived much earlier, waited endlessly and anxiously to be chosen while the near-obese owner of the ball wobbled in at his time, and got the opportunity to play thrown at him by the powers that governed the street game almost immediately, much to the fury of the bystanders, seeing as the standing rule was “first come, first serve”. It often generated tense fisticuffs but over time, the big guys often explained that we could either take the choice of letting him play while we stay in the waiting line, or letting him leave while taking along, his ball of course. At that point, common sense always prevailed. Better play late than not, we often thought. The rule had to take a temporary backseat.

The rule of law is one of the earliest inventions of man and that it has stayed so long with continuous metamorphosis into better forms, is testament in itself, to its inestimable relevance to society. That situation in my childhood, as narrated, however shows to an extent, that blind enforcement of the law can also be as inimical as it is beneficial. This is and always will be so, because law remains an artificial product, which means it is also borne out of the different complexities of the imperfect homo-sapiens.

While law is meant to entrench morality in the society, alas, what is legal is not always moral and it goes for vice versa also. This is pertinent in the light of recent criticisms, directed at President Muhammadu Buhari for his response in a recent media chat to questions regarding the flouting of court orders by security operatives, under his leadership. The President’s reply, was an attempt to justify such moves by saying the magnitude of the crimes committed by the concerned persons made them a high-risk for bail, and ever since, the choristers of the rule-of-law band have gone to town singing to all, the by-now weak lyrics of “anarchy, dictatorship, and tyranny”. Blah, blah, blah!

One is struck with laughter reading that even a governor that sponsored the impeachment of a speaker with minority number of members in the State House of Assembly, and shut down courts with thugs to successfully forestall any judicial intervention has also been expressing concern over the President’s “lawlessness”.

The President must have been badly prepped for that media session, if at all he was, for otherwise, one would have expected that the President’s reply to that question would be more along the line of judicial sage, Professor Itse Sagay’s, when he was asked a similar question in a recent interview, relating to the episode of an ex-NIMASA boss who was bundled into a bus by security agents despite two courts having granted him bail. Professor Sagay remarked that, “he was re-arrested for a new charge. That’s allowed. They were not disrespecting the bail, they had a new charge. For any new charge, police can arrest. So all he needs to do, is to ask for bail for that too. That’s what had happened.”

The President is not a lawyer to be fair to him, and may not have understood these workings but it is not hard to see that the presidential directive to the prosecutors must have been for them to find a way to keep the accused persons with security agents. While Prof. Sagay had long provided the answer which rule-of-law singers sought, the President only provided the reasoning behind such tactics.

A popular axiom goes “much law, little justice”. It is also widely accepted that the law is not always fair, otherwise how would one describe a law that also provides room for some not to be answerable to the law, under the guise of injunctions or immunity. It is due to the rule of law that several high profile cases in this country never even kicked off, it is also the rule of law that has allowed some go on forever and die a sudden death. In other words, the rule of law has continuously been an impediment to justice, as seen to be done, in this country. Make no mistake, this is not an attempt to denigrate the use of law, it is only a call not to acquiesce to the temptation to enforcement of law devoid of human discretion and the very same common sense that birthed it.

President Buhari had asked that if such blatant exploitation of glaring loopholes in the law continued, ”what type of country do you want to run?”, and it sparked in my memory a similar question one of the big brothers on my street then had asked, “if we simply follow the rule by not letting him play and he goes home with his ball, which ball do we play?”

Gbolahan Yusuf

gbolly1992@gmail.com

tweets via @G1gbolahan

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.om0juwa.com nor its associates

N13bn Fraud: EFCC To Arraign Tompolo, Akpolokemi Thursday

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to unconditionally appear before it on Thursday to answer 40 counts of alleged N13bn fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Tompolo had been charged on Tuesday with an amended 40 counts of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering alongside an ex-Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

Justice Ibrahim Buba granted the order to compel Tompolo’s appearance in chambers on Tuesday shortly after the amended charges were filed in court.

The judge, in a copy of the order sighted by our correspondent, held, “That an order is granted to the applicant (EFCC) issuing a summons to compel the appearance of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) before this honourable court having been alleged to have committed the offences as contained in the body of the charge.

“That leave is granted to the applicant to serve the summons and charge No. FHC/L/553c/2015 on Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tomplolo) by substituted means to wit: affixing same on the conspicuous part of his known address situate at No 1 Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State.”

Charged alongside Tompolo and Akpobolokemi are one Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Capt Warredi Enisuoh.

Among the accused are also four companies – Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd., Odimiri Electrical Ltd., Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd., and Destre Consult Ltd.

The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of NIMASA’s property to their own contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The prosecution said the accused were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

Alleged N2.6bn Theft: Court Fixes Jan. 18, 2016 For Trial Of Ex NIMASA Boss, 5 Others

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday fixed Jan. 18, 2016 for the trial of former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others, charged with N2.6 billion theft.

Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Amaechi Juan and two companies– Blockz and Stonez Ltd. and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd., on a 22-count charge.

The accused were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court, on Dec. 3, on a 30-count charge bordering on conversion and stealing.

They were again arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba on Dec. 4 on a fresh 22-count charge, also bordering on conversion and theft.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and justice Buba had granted them bail in the sum of N50 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

The court had also ordered the accused to sign an undertaking not to unnecessarily delay speedy trial.

Buba had then adjourned the case for trial.

When the case was called on Monday, counsel to the third, fifth, and sixth accused, Mr Seni Adio, informed the court that he required some time to prepare for trial, having been briefed.

He, therefore, prayed the court for time to peruse the documents and prepare for trial.

The prayer for adjournment was also adopted by counsel to the other accused.

Consequently, Buba adjourned the case til Jan. 18 for trial.

In the charge sheet jointly signed by Mr Festus Keyamo and Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa, the accused were said to have committed the alleged offences between December 2013 and March 2014.

The prosecution alleged that in February 2014 in Lagos, the accused persons conspired to convert about N437 million belonging to NIMASA.

They were said to have on January 9, 2014 converted to their private use, about N66 million, and between April and August 2014,converted the sums of N21 million and N53 million respectively, also to their use.

The total sum of money allegedly converted by the accused was said to have amounted to about N2.6 billion.

The offence, according to the prosecution, contravenes the provisions of sections, 15 (1), 15 (3) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.

(NAN)

Court To Begin Ex-NIMASA Boss’ Trial Dec 14

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Amaechi Juan and two companies; Blockz and Stonez Ltd., and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd., on 22 counts bordering on conversion and theft.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dragged the accused persons to court.

The accused were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on December 3, on 30 count bordering on conversion and stealing.

They were, subsequently, arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba on December 4 on fresh 22 counts, also bordering on conversion and theft.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each granted bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.

The court had also ordered the accused to sign an undertaking not to unnecessarily delay the trial.

Buba then adjourned the case to December 14 for trial.

When the case came up on Monday; the counsel for the first accused, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him regularise and prepare for trial.

Following his application, Justice Buba adjourned the case to December 14 for commencement of trial.

In the charge jointly signed by Mr Festus Keyamo and Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa, the accused were said to have committed the alleged offences between December 2013 and March 2014.

The prosecution alleged that in February 2014 in Lagos, the accused persons conspired to convert about N437m belonging to NIMASA.

They were also accused of converting about N66m to their private use on January 9, 2014, and between April and August, 2014, they converted N21m and N53m, respectively, to their use.

The offences, the prosecution said, contravened Sections, 15 (1), 15 (3) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.

Amaechi Orders Probe Of Maritime Academy Over N18bn Remittances

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has ordered a probe into the financial activities of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State and N18 billion remittances to the institution by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in the last five years. Amaechi gave the order following allegations of financial recklessness and large scale fraud leveled against the academy’s rector, Joshua Okpo.

The academy’s rector had recently approached Amaechi to accuse NIMASA of starving the institute of Funds. Amaechi immediately called for a meeting with the management of NIMASA and enquired from them why it was sitting on the subvention of MAN, Oron.

This claim was however refuted by NIMASA’s acting DG, Haruna Jauro who told Amaechi that the agency had remitted over N18 billion to the academy since 2009. At the enquiry of the minister, the MAN rector, Okpo said he only took over in 2011 to which NIMASA declared that a sum of N13 billion was remitted to the institution since the rector took over. When asked what he had done with the N13 billion remitted to the academy since he took over as Rector, Okpo kept giving incoherent and inconsistent answers. This made Amaechi to immediately call for a probe.

Tompolo’s Contract Remains Intact – New NIMASA Boss

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

NIMASA has rubbished reports that the federal government has broken off its relationship with Tompolo’s company which is in charge of pipeline security in parts of the country.

Isichie Osangbi, Deputy Director of Public relations for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) denied receiving any directive from the presidency to discontinue payment to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) for the provision of platforms for security of the nation’s waterways, which is owned by the ex-militant leader.

“NIMASA is a government agency and would always implement government policy or reform in the maritime sector and not to be seen doing the opposite. Also, as a government agency, NIMASA ought
to be in the know if there was any such directive or change in policy, since the alleged directive, according to those peddling the rumour, was meant for the agency to put an end to all payments to Global West Vessel.

“I tell you with due sense of responsibility that there is no such directive. If there is, nothing would have stopped NIMASA from informing members of the public or issuing statement to that effect,” he said.

“We are aware of our core mandate and we will do everything to enforce the federal government law as it affects the maritime sector. No rumor or falsehood will distract us,” he said.

The maritime security contract was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan and awarded by NIMASA in 2011.

NIMASA Boss, Akpobolokemi Arrested By EFCC

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, who was sacked two weeks ago by President Buhari was arrested by EFCC officials yesterday July 30th.

According to a NIMASA official who revealed this to Premium Times, Akpobolokemi was arrested yesterday morning at about 10am over allegations of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the DG of the maritime agency

“He was taken in this morning around 10 a.m. Some of our other officials have also been summoned while EFCC operatives have been conducting discreet investigation here. There is tension everywhere. One of our people just returned from EFCC and he told me the former DG is still there, sweating profusely as he was being questioned by investigators.” the source said

EFCC officials stormed the NIMASA head office and interrogated some officials over contracts awarded by Mr Akpobolokemi during the last administration

“For instance, they wanted to know how a whopping N13 billion was spent on the acquisition of land for the permanent site of the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta. They also asked about other transactions they believed were fraudulent, including transfers of millions of dollars from NIMASA accounts to other accounts.” the source added

An official of EFCC who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed Mr Akpobolokemi’s arrest.

“I’m aware he is with us but I don’t have details about the case against him or what investigators are asking him,” said the official

Nwabueze Obi Named As Acting Director General Of NIMASA

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi has taken over as the Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) following the handing over by Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi as directed by the Federal Government.Nwabueze ObiMuyiwa Akintunde

Barrister Obi, who until his appointment was the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services in the Agency, brings over two decades experience in the public sector, law practice and the maritime industry into his new responsibility.

Born on May 1, 1964, Barrister Obi, who hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, studied Law at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 after duly completing the mandatory studies at the Law School. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The Acting DG is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, amongst membership of several other professional associations.

Mr. Obi is married with children.

Source – Sahara Reporters

Tompolo Denies Receiving N1.5bn Monthly

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Government Ekpomupolo, also known as ‘Tompolo’ has denied allegations made against him by the pioneer chairman of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Alhaji Tijani Ramalan, that he was paid N1.5billion monthly for the protection of the nation’s maritime domain.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo,Tompolo said Ramalan is merely seeking desperate attention in the hope of getting a job.

The statement reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in the Leadership newspaper of Wednesday June 3, 2015. In the said publication, one

Ahmed Tijani Ramalan made very wild, unsubstantiated allegations against my person that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety

Agency (NIMASA) pays me the sum of N1.5 billion monthly for the protection of the nation’s maritime domain.

“Without any further stress, it is obvious that the said Ramalan is merely seeking an undue attention. And whatever that attention is,

“I make bold to say Ramalan who claims to be the pioneer chairman of NIMASA is not just economical with the truth but his outburst is an exhibition of ignorance and mischief which should be ignored by all.”

He added that he is not on the board of Global West. “Ramalan’s contraption of any sum being paid to me is therefore rubbish, malicious, unsubstantiated and display of ignorance. I can only pity such a man whose intention is perhaps to rubbish my name and needlessly drag me into the fray of disputes at a time the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari is barely one week in office.”

Calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to ignore the allegations against him, Tompolo, added that the intention of Ramalan is to generally misled and probably position himself for a comeback to NIMASA.

NIMASA Pays Tompolo N1.5bn Monthly- Ex-Chairman

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Ahmed Tijani Ramalan, has disclosed that the agency pays the sum of N1.5bn monthly to the ex-militant leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to protect the nation’s maritime areas.

Dr Ramalan, however, lamented that despite such gesture, the country still loses over 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily from the nation’s shores.

The former NIMASA chairman, who revealed this to LEADERSHIP in an interview in Kaduna, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the contract given to the ex-militant by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, “Over 400, 000 barrels of crude oil are being stolen daily from our shores under President Jonathan; yet we had a government that has the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, and the government of Jonathan decides to hand over the security of our maritime waters to Tompolo at a very exorbitant amount of money.

“And these same people that are given the job of our maritime security are the ones that are collaborating with the international shipping companies to steal our oil.”

According to him, one of the ways to help the country’s economy to bounce back is to revoke Tompolo’s contract.

“And if Buhari does not do so, we will be the first to start attacking him. There is no basis to give that kind of billion naira job to ex-militants,” he declared.

Making further clarification on how long the payment has been going on, Ramalan said it started “sometime after 2011 when Jonathan won his election and since then the payment has been on.

“I was the pioneer chairman of NIMASA, and NIMASA is the one funding the contract given to Tompolo. This is a guy that is collecting about N1.5bn every month and yet our Armed Forces are not well funded. So, we call on the president to discard such contract.”

He further stated that Buhari’s strong character and honesty would help him to lead country well.

“We supported President Buhari’s presidency because we believe that the country needs a strong leadership. The insecurity and economic problem that we are having in the country today is because of lack of a strong and quality leadership,” he said.

“We believe the country needs a leader that is not corrupt, because the issue of corruption in the country has led the country to its knees.

“The country would have gone down if the administration of Jonathan was allowed to continue. For us, we believe that having a new leader is what the country needs because of the massive corruption. We believe in President Buhari; we believe there is hope in having him as the president.”

He also expressed confidence in Buhari’s ability to solve the problem of insecurity in the country.

Credit: leadership

Tompolo’s Alleged Gunboats Belong To NIMASA -Nigerian Navy

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Staff Reporter

THE Nigerian Navy has said that the seven gunboats alleged to have been bought by an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, indeed belonged to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

The Chief of Training and Operations of the NN, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday said reports that Tompolo had acquired warships was untrue.

He explained that the said gunboats belonged to the NIMASA and that they were being manned by personnel of the Nigerian Navy from the maritime component of the service, in consonance with a pact between the agency and the Navy.

Oyagha said, “I want to state categorically that no individual has acquired gun boats in this country. The gunboats being alluded to actually belong to NIMASA and these boats are currently being manned by personnel of the Nigerian Navy.

“And as you are all aware, Nigerian Navy has collaboration with NIMASA, to which we have a maritime component attached in support of the statutory responsibility in ensuring the safety of our harbour approaches to our anchorage.”

He also dismissed claims that the gunboats had Tompolo written on them, saying no such boat was operating in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Source – Punch Ng

OMOJUWA.COM

Latest Nigerian News | Naija News | Breaking News

Tag Archives: NIMASA

“Remove all abandoned ships or lose them”, NIMASA orders owners.

NIMASA fraud: EFCC withdraws charges against four accused

N8.5 billion fraud: Former JTF Commander, ex-NIMASA boss re-arraigned

N136 million fraud: Court reserves judgment in trial of NIMASA boss

Trial of ex-NIMASA boss, Jauro, fixed for January 24.

N2.6 billon NIMASA fraud case adjourned to February 28

Sahara Reprters: How NIMASA Sponsored Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia On Juicy Foreign Trips

‘How Akpobolokemi, others converted NIMASA’s N4.9b into dollars’ – EFCC

N47.6bn fraud: Absence of prosecutor, witness stalls Tompolo, Akpobolokemi’s trial

How NIMASA transferred N8.5bn to JTF – EFCC witness.

NIMASA ex-boss used committees to launder funds – EFCC

Witness tells court how Ex DG of NIMASA, others laundered billions of Naira

Reps Grill Peterside Over NIMASA’s $5bn Debt Recovery Contract

NIMASA to continue to sponsor indigenous maritime capacity – Peterside

NIMASA: N97m Was Transferred To My Account For Forex – Bank Official

N47.7bn NIMASA Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Tompolo, Seven Others In Absentia

Court Reserves Judgment In Trial Of Ex-NIMASA Boss

FG Appoints Peterside As DG NIMASA

We Are Still Looking For Tompolo, IG Of Police Says

N2.6bn Fraud: Fashion Designer Got N546m From NIMASA

Gbolahan Yusuf: Between The Rule Of Law And Common Sense

N13bn Fraud: EFCC To Arraign Tompolo, Akpolokemi Thursday

Alleged N2.6bn Theft: Court Fixes Jan. 18, 2016 For Trial Of Ex NIMASA Boss, 5 Others

Court To Begin Ex-NIMASA Boss’ Trial Dec 14

Amaechi Orders Probe Of Maritime Academy Over N18bn Remittances

Tompolo’s Contract Remains Intact – New NIMASA Boss

NIMASA Boss, Akpobolokemi Arrested By EFCC

Nwabueze Obi Named As Acting Director General Of NIMASA

Tompolo Denies Receiving N1.5bn Monthly

NIMASA Pays Tompolo N1.5bn Monthly- Ex-Chairman

Tompolo’s Alleged Gunboats Belong To NIMASA -Nigerian Navy