Norwegian Defence Chief, Haakon Bruun-
Hansen, an admiral, has apologised to the
country’s lawmakers for the sale of a fleet
of a decommissioned naval battleships and
combats boats to a former Niger Delta
militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also
known as Tompolo.

Mr. Ekpemupolo was the leader of one of
the several militias in the Niger Delta
region that led a devastating campaign of
violence against the Nigerian state for
several years until he was awarded a multi-
billion pipeline protection contract by the
out-going Goodluck Jonathan administration as part of an amnesty deal with ex-combatants.

After giving up fighting, surrendering his arms, and leading his men to hand over their weapons, Tompolo in 2012 received at least six decommissioned Norwegia battleships, a Norwegian newspaper, Daglabet, found in December.

Among them were six fast-speed Hauk-
class guided missile boats, now re-armed
with new weapons.

The most recent hardware was the KNM
Horten, a fast-attack craft allegedly used
for anti-piracy patrol in the Nigerian
waters.

Daglabet reported that the sale was
implemented through a shell maritime
Security Company based in the United
Kingdom, CAS Global.

CAS Global was used to evade a requirement by Norway that arms dealers obtain export license from their country’s foreign affairs ministry, the report adds.

Mr. Ekpemupolo runs Global West Vessel
Service, which handles maritime security
issues for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

After the deal became public in December,
the Director General of NIMASA, Patrick
Ziakede Akpobolokemi, claimed the
vessels were purchased as part of a Public
Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in
conjunction with the Nigerian Navy. He
said the Navy has rearmed the vessels to
enable it effectively carried out its anti-
piracy patrol.

“As an arm of the government responsible
for maritime safety, security and regulations amongst others, we work in conjunction with
the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies to use their men and arms to patrol and provide safety of the country’s water ways, as mandated by the global body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

“It is the Navy that has fitted their guns on the vessels to aid their policing of the maritime domain,” he said.

The Norwegian government also, at the time, defended the transaction, according to Daglabet newspaper, saying the export “followed correct procedure and terms of export to Great Britain.

The re-export from Great Britain to Nigeria is a question to be handled solely by British export control authorities”.

But the report that Norway sold such military hardware to an individual with a history of violence angered the country’s lawmakers and triggered an investigation leading to the arrest of three Norwegian civil servants, now being charged for corruption.

Speaking during a parliamentary disciplinary committee enquiry into the sale of the battleships this week, the defence chief, Mr. Bruun-Hansen, admitted that military officials did not do proper due diligence before selling the decommissioned ships.

“The fact that the vessels have landed in Nigeria under Nigerian flag reflects a breakdown in our systems, and I apologize for that,” Mr. Bruun-Hansen said during Thursday’s hearing.

Mr. Bruun-Hansen was not the Chief of Defence at the time when the battle ship were sold to CAS Global.

News bureau NTB reported that Mr. Bruun-Hansen’s predecessor, Harald Sunde, who was in-charge when the deal was struck, also apologised saying he was disappointed over all the mistakes made.

He however blamed the breakdown of due diligence in the sale of the vessel to a reorganisation at the defence department’s logistics organization (FLO), at the time the
sales was made.

Also speaking during the hearing, Norwegian Foreign Minister, Børge Brende, said a lot about the sale and export of the vessels are still not known and the state prosecutor has been ordered to seek possible criminal violations.

Dagbladet, which uncovered the shady deal, reported that a simple google search would have revealed that CAS Global only had a post office address, yet the military went ahead and allowed Nigerian representatives of the firm, probably handpicked by Mr. Ekpemupolo, to
inspect the vessels before they were sold.
“Does this mean that anybody can buy these boats, as long as they sign a declaration?” asked an irate Member of Parliament, Erik Skutle. “Even terrorists? How on earth could this happen?” he added.

During the hearing, Petter Jansen, the head of FLO also tried unsuccessfully to answer questions about another revelation by Dagbladet that Norwegian military had
another former Norwegian Coast Guard vessel, the KV Titran, through a South African brokerage company, Nautic Africa, which in turn sold the vessel to an unnamed Nigerian company.

Mr. Jansen admitted that that transaction didn’t also follow due diligence.



www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/182368-norway-regrets-selling-warships-to-ex-niger-delta-militant-tompolo.html

Shaddy arms rackets in Norway and SA under his official endorsement. Wow! Can we have the Nobel Peace Prize for this man already??

What? I don't even know what to say, in fact, I don't have what to say.

I thought the boat was stripped of its arms and ammunitions?

Cc: Lalasticlala.

Hope Buhari investigates and recovers those ammunitions Jonathan bought for his brothers

Would they have regretted it if Buari had not won? Rubbish! Trying hard in advance to avoid diplomatic row

I am highly disappointed at our NSA.

Under Jonathan, so much damage has been done to our Security and Defence Apparatus!

I also blame the Norwegians for NOT doing their "findings" properly!!

I reserv my comment til 2019

Modified:

many of such deal are waiting to be exhumed. Oristajafor and Alli modu Sherriff 's case will also soon be uncovered.

Imagine Nigeria Army, respected in Africa for the Peace Keeping being humiliated by an internal insurgence. Apart from the political undertone, is it not possible for the empowered civilians with history of terrorizing the nation to deal in ammunitions to divert the ammunitions to the people behind the insurgency since it is business?

With a sober sincerity of mind, Jonathan has done more harms in arms than good in goods to the nation.

Sweetguy25:
...

Let's see what you've got to say.

The only thing that will save Buhari and APC is for them to rule with equity, but if the marginalization and witch-hunting of a particular region starts, the region will respond in kind...Omenka you can rant all you want but the only advise I will give you is to advice Buhari to rule with equity and spread development and appointment evenly if not..

If they like, they can acquire submarine.

All will be recovered and destroyed by end of year.

After giving up fighting, surrendering his arms, and leading his men to hand over their weapons, Tompolo in 2012 received at least six decommissioned Norwegia battleships, a Norwegian newspaper, Daglabet, found in December.

Six! 1,2,3,4,5,6 battleships! In the hands of a militant. Is there a civil war going on in this country? Jonathan haff finish this country.

this election was supposed to be a blood bath. but God did not give it to Nigeria's enemies

MosD:
Would they have regretted it if Buari had not won? Rubbish! Trying hard in advance to avoid diplomatic row

On the contrary they would have , The British citizen who brokered the deal did not investigate who was really making the purchase , probably because it was approved by the C in C , and yes immediately Norway found out , the Brit was arrested and the news made headlines for weeks , if it was possible i am sure Norway would offer refund and collect their weaponry

birdman:
this election was supposed to be a blood bath. but God did not give it to Nigeria's enemies

It's possible that's the reason America station their warship in preparation for post election violence. God really love this country.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/u-s-set-for-likely-post-election-crisis-in-nigeria/

PassingShot:

Let's see what you've got to say.

Don't sweat it. The vessels still belong to the military.

If not for international pressure and threat of ICJ, every one knows what this yeye hero planned for Nigeria.

QuotaSystem:
See them. Give them presidency for 5 minutes and they niger-deltanize the whole country, subjugate the Navy, empower terrorists, and internationalize corruption & impunity. I beg who can pronounce that Nimasa DG's name?

They shouldn't be in the same country with you, so you can live on groundnut and onions.

Idiota!

How come we don't give regard to the past of former northern coup plotters and genocidal military men, but we call men like Dokubo and Tompolo who have long dropped their arms, militants.

Imagine! How can a deal of this magnitude be conducted without verification of address. Its a big shame to the Norwegian Military Defense, an individual masquerading as a private defense contractor purchase six War Ship using a post office address. Statistically, I thought they said Norway is the least most corrupt country in the World, it seem's they are wrong.

I am yet to see any difference between Global West Vessel Service and Dangote Group or Globacom.

I only see one similarity, they are all indigenous companies that have ventures in different fields.


If you don't like them, float your own business and compete or forever shut your shortsightedness and hypocrisy.

The OP is gud at inciting hate against the Ijaws.

But his plans won't work.
See his head like unripe mango.

Too late.

Mogidi:
Too late.

Too late to do what exactly??

stebell:
The OP is gud at inciting hate against the Ijaws.

But his plans won't work.
See his head like unripe mango.

Very dumb comment. Typical of Jonathanians; tribe, religion, region.

Following

fr3do:
How come we don't give regard to the past of former northern coup plotters and genocidal military men, but we call men like Dokubo and Tompolo who have long dropped their arms, militants.

Now tell me Mr smart .Who were the first persons/section of this country to organize a coup?

Norway should just shut it up....who does dat?

Baba will revisit all party's sins very soon.
and trust me he wont take prisoners. ...

omenka:
Very dumb comment. Typical of Jonathanians; tribe, religion, region.

Like I said earlier, yu are good at spreading hate among tribes.
Welldone.