Reps query NIMASA over payment of $326m to Tompolo’s firmon October 14, 2013 at 1:52 am in News
BY GODWIN ORITSE

THE House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, has queried the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, over the $326million payment to Global West Specialist Vessels Limited, a company purportedly owned by ex- militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupoloaka Tompolo.

The House Committee was set up to ascertain how much has accrued into the CVFF, including the interest, as well as how much the Fund disbursed and to whom it gave the money. It also demanded to know why such huge amount of payment was made to Global West.

During the investigation, a member of the Committee, Dr Adejare Samuel Babatunde, raised an alarm at the amount of money paid to one single company, and demanded that a detailed bank statement of account of the CVFF be forwarded to the committee.

The committee, it was gathered, was also irked by the payment of 50 percent of NIMASA’s generated revenue to the said company, contrary to laid down financial regulations of government.

The committee also picked holes at the NIMASA CVFF accounts and demanded an explanation on the movement of monies from the Fund to other accounts.

Beside the unauthorized movements of monies from the Fund, the committee further demanded the disclosure of names and the consultants engaged by NIMASA and how much has been paid to the consultants.

The committee then called for an amendment of the Cabotage Act with a view to quickening the process of disbursement of the CVFF which has been hampered by the guidelines.

“The guidelines can be changed any time but changing the law is more cumbersome because by your explanation, we will run into trouble by 2015 when double hull vessels will be phased out.

“We also want the break down of the interest that accrued to the Fund on a year by year basis,”Adejare said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, expressed concern at the state of the Nigerian maritime industry, which he said has been occasioned by ineptitude and poor regulatory framework.

His words: “ The fear is that some unpatriotic people are misapplying the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund to the detriment of its objectives.

“Following the concern expressed by stakeholders and the Nigerian public on the irregularities occasioned by the misapplication of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, the House considered a motion on the subject matter and resolved to set up the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the application of the Fund so as to address the challenges and find a way forward.”

Defending the payment, NIMASA’s Director General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, said there was an agreement between the Federal government through the agency and the firm.

Akpobolokemi explained that the agreement was that 50 percent of extra revenue generated by NIMASA should be paid as consultancy fee to Global West.

The agency boss stated that some consultants were engaged to grow the Fund, adding that the CVFF is put in tenured accounts so as to grow the Fund.

He explained that in the agreement government had with Global West, the firm was to provide platforms and intelligence that will assist the agency in blocking loopholes and fight crimes that can hinder its financial growth.

The Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds currently stands at over N30billion, including its interest. About six indigenous shipping companies have applied to access the Fund.

The applicants, Vanguard learnt, are currently undergoing security screening by government before the Fund will be disbursed.

Efforts to reach the management of Global West Specialist Vessels Limited were futile as the firm’s spokesman Mr. Paul Bebenimibo refused to take calls and reply to text messages sent to his phone.

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First, Asari Mujahid Dokubo established his own university, now Tom polo has 325 paid into his account. Abeg, with all these corrupt cases making headlines, I see why ASUU believe FG has the money to meet their demands. But sha e be like say if man pikin wan make am for Nigeria, na to go study militancy for Dokubo school be dat o.

This case wud die a natural death.
Imagine a militant owns a company. Smh
Wetin we go hear 4dis kontry $326M ? ?

Na our oyel money

Had the money been paid to Dangote Groups Plc as the regulation stipulates, you wouldn't have problem with that to say the lest.

raytony: First, Asari Mujahid Dokubo established his own university, now Tom polo has 325 paid into his account. Abeg, with all these corrupt cases making headlines, I see why ASUU believe FG has the money to meet their demands. But sha e be like say if man pikin wan make am for Nigeria, na to go study militancy for Dokubo school be dat o.

Shen Teh: Mallam Tamfolo's campany was cantracted to guard our fifelines and waterpront, eben though bunkering, accorzing to his selp-same emfloyers hab increased since his emfloy, yet we keef faying him in millians of Dallars.

Refs, you either pire him or retain him, but we all know zhat zhis money faid to him will neber be recoufed by zhis fathologically reckless gamnent. Shege! Tamfolo and his brathers enjoying the tyfical 'oyel' loot. One Naijiriya!

Lmao!! On some Aboki shi'?!? Kunu mixed with ethanol na die!

He explained that in the agreement government had with Global West, the firm was to provide platforms and intelligence that will assist the agency in blocking loopholes and fight crimes that can hinder its financial growth.

Okay... So the government has paid Global West for what exactly? Have we gotten $326 million worth of services from this "firm"? What "platforms and intelligence" can a militant provide that the Navy cannot? What loopholes have been blocked? How many criminals have been arrested? What was the basis for agreeing a payment of HALF the increase in revenue? Which serious government pays out a commission of 50 PERCENT?

Are we serious at all?

Ngwakwe: Had the money been paid to Dangote Groups Plc as the regulation stipulates, you wouldn't have problem with that to say the lest.

Nwane you are not making sense at all, $326m!!

Jonathan and I been dey support you, God punish ur yansh. When students have been at home for over 100days.


Monica Ogha - I wish sey
Wetin I no go see 4 dis life e o
Wetin I no go hear 4 dis life e o
Story storyyyy, story storyyyy
Story storyyy, listen to my storyy

Mama dey hustle, day and night
Papa sey struggle, dey fight for right
If den make small money e go go like dat
By d time dem pay for light, everything go tight
Food no dey water no dey o
Dis kind of thing dey make person to want to go astray

Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
I say dis thing dis thing dey pain me
And I wish sey me I fit change am o
I say I wish sey me I fit change am o

You go read sotey ur head go swell
You go beg sotey ur mouth go swell
Ti omo ba lo ile-iwe to pari e o, oye ko nise lowo lopolopo(when a child goes to school nd graduates, there shud be lots of job for him/her)
Employer dey find people with experience
U no get job, how u go get experience(experience)
Our graduates dey ride okada o
After all d stress from akada(studying)
Dis kind of thing dey make person to want to go astray

Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
I say dis thing dis thing dey pain me
And I wish sey me I fit change am o
I say I wish sey me I fit change am o

Nd I everytime I think about the things wey dey happen For the life of my people
E dey make wanna break down and cry, breakdown and pray

Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
I say dis thing dis thing dey pain me
And I wish sey me I fit change am o
I say I wish sey me I fit change am o
Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
Dis thing dis thing dey pain me
I say dis thing dis thing dey pain me
And I wish sey me I fit change am o
I say I wish sey me I fit change am o

I have no doubt tompolo is a conduit for Jonathan!

What a very small world we live in... Is dz not d same Tampolo dat wz rumoured to have bought a private Jet... I wonder how buying a private wud change d life of Niger deltans dat re suffering(and he calls himself a freedom fighter, he bis fighting for freedom from what?)...
Even Asari d same freedom fighter dat d youths spilt blood for,put there lives in the line for,when d tym for reward came, he went and bought a mansion in Abuja and started living large,how wud buying a mansion in Abuja change d lives of Niger deltans in d south, not only dat dz same guy went and built a private university in BENIN republic, when down here in d Niger delta they lack Universities...
I just remembered how during d old days when we had d Eastern republic d Ijaws were d one's complaining d most,they didn't complain abt tribalism, or dat we were marginalizing them,or nepotism,or corruption, all they were complaining abt wz IGBO domination... At least we in d Igbo's gave them some priviledge that the western Ijaws didn't receive in d west, a yoruba man prefers his brother dat's yoruba more than any other Nigerian,even if u re better than his brother or not b4 he starts putting u in mind,,,its all dz things dat led to the creation of d midwest region,as a result of d injustices in the west,,, the Ijaws kept complaining abt Igbo domination, until the moment crude oil wz discovered in there region in 1956(oloibiri) b4 sm years they said they wanted there own region,then they started campaigning for Niger delta republic,,, now we re in 2013, everyone knows dat the Ijaws re not much different from d northerners, bcoz of there tendency of using force on others,,,and they comeup with a republic and claim d entire southsouth zone,and call it Niger delta...lol''' the republic has not started and there generals that called there self freedom fighters hv started showing themselves, buying private jets,building universities abroad while there ppl suffer,,,yet Ojukwu that fought for a reason, Ojukwu cud hv just forgotten abt d war,while d Nigerian govt paid him some huge amount of money then he moves to lagos and enjoy his fathers wealth while his ppl suffered but he said NO,,,and fought... I just pity d non ijaw groups that re shouting Niger delta,especially d ikwerre's dat keep denying Igbo, sth dat even the Ijaws know,,,when Nigeria disintegrates and this Niger delta republic is created,,, d Ijaws wud remind u ppl that u ppl were always Igbo's...as for d Itsekiri and Urhobo and others of d delta dat re non Igbo's and Ijaws dat re claiming Niger delta...lol'''TIME SHALL TELL

omenka: I have no doubt tompolo is a conduit for Jonathan!

Why are you stealing words out of my mouth? And the Retardeens apologetic and retarded aficionados won't still think straight

raytony: First, Asari Mujahid Dokubo established his own university, now Tom polo has 325 paid into his account. Abeg, with all these corrupt cases making headlines, I see why ASUU believe FG has the money to meet their demands. But sha e be like say if man pikin wan make am for Nigeria, na to go study militancy for Dokubo school be dat o.

you've forgotten the private jet tompolo bought?

Sh*t

Hmmmmm , graduate roaming the street as unemployed y militants are being giving juicy contract.

Ngwakwe: Had the money been paid to Dangote Groups Plc as the regulation stipulates, you wouldn't have problem with that to say the lest.

You're a foolish boy for making such a senseless comment!!

Can you mention the service Thief Tompolo has rendered that makes him deserving of $326M??

Olodo "snail-brain" like you!!

This is very very disheartening. I actually have this feeling my eyes are getting misty. . .

Even if they must steal, we can't completely stop it now BUT must they rub all these stealing sprees in our faces?

Must they steal this much and without the tiniest attempt to cover their tracks? Making all of these things obvious is nothing but insults on our sensibilities as Nigerians. . .

Someone even said if this was Dangote nobody will talk? Is that poster one of Tompolo's former criminal thugs? Like seriously!! This money looks like revenue of barely a year of work. Abi? Good Lord!

People make more than that in shorter periods of time BUT the whole world can actually point at what those people did to earn the money.

While I have my well founded reservations about Dangote this shouldn't even be used as comparison.

So much for EMANCIPATING the Niger Delta. . .*Smh*

It is well Oo

malc619:

You're a foolish boy for making such a senseless comment!!

Can you mention the service Thief Tompolo has rendered that makes him deserving of $326M??

Olodo "snail-brain" like you!!

take it easy on him Malcom!

First, Tompolo does not own a private jet.

One of my wife's siblings work with a company around Tompolo's village.
Tompolo owns fleets of boats and is a small god of some sort when it comes to
water transportation around his village. We have so many liars around. Some people
take delight in fabricating and spreading falsehood all in attempt to run a government down.
If he has a private jet, which airport is it parked? Will somebody own an aircraft and park it in
his compound? Who has ever set his eyes on this aircraft? Even, anyone with a picture?

Second, Reps should do their work wholeheartedly in the overall interest of Nigeria. If there are sharp practices involved in the deal between NIMASA civil servants and Tompolo's company it should be exposed. But I know Tompolo's company has a contract with NIMASA and a worker must be paid his wages.

$326m?

All I can say for now is "Lord have mercy!"

abeg is it da same tompolo dat his poster(most wanted) was all over warri few years back?

Goddex:
First, Tompolo does not own a private jet.

One of my wife's siblings work with a company around Tompolo's village. Tompolo owns fleets of boats and is a small god of some sort when it comes to water transportation around his village. We have so many liars around. Some people take delight in fabricating and spreading falsehood all in attempt to run a government down. If he has a private jet, which airport is it parked? Will somebody own an aircraft and park it in his compound? Who has ever set his eyes on this aircraft? Even, anyone with a picture?

SE TOMPOLO NAH UR BROTHER?

And these bastards would come out on national tv shouting about fighting for Niger Delta. Why didn't Dokumbo or what is his name opened the so called University in the Niger Delta. I no blame them, na the useless and senseless govt i blame. Besides, we should all just let ASUU be, let them fight for what's theirs. If the FG can pay single person these huge amounts, why not pay a whole ASUU theirs.

"Nigerians encourage corruption..."- Goodluck Jonathan 2013

abeg. where I fit Buy gun.. even if na awka made?..






militancy is the easiest Road to wealth as far as naija is concerned

I've said it before. Goodluck and his militant friends are amassing sophisticated weapons in the ND.
They bring in these weapons through the sea where Tompolo's security company is in charge.
This fund is just another to further fund the acquisition of weapons. They're planning to war in the case of Goodluck's electoral loss or intense opposition to his cause.

Ngwakwe: Had the money been paid to Dangote Groups Plc as the regulation stipulates, you wouldn't have problem with that to say the lest.

@ngakwe or whatever u called urself ur sentiment will continue to keeping u in darkness. u Berta wake up.

Ngwakwe: Had the money been paid to Dangote Groups Plc as the regulation stipulates, you wouldn't have problem with that to say the lest.

@ngakwe or whatever u called urself ur sentiment will continue to keeping u in darkness. u Beta wake up.

And queen of England receives aw much in two years??

The money is for Jonathan's campaign in 2015.