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

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-naira 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 Norwegian 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.

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

After the deal became public in December 2014, the Director General of NIMASA, Patrick 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 carry 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),” he said.

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.

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.

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

Sauce = Egusi
http://shipsandports.com.ng/norway-defence-chief-apologises-for-selling-warships-to-ex-militant-tompolo/

OP
If I Swear For You Eh,,,,Your Nyash Go Come Your Front

Mtchewww

NCOIM:


OP
If I Swear For You Eh,,,,Your Nyash Go Come Your Front

Mtchewww

There's a position of a witch Doctor for you. With your post only, we can feel your urge.

These are countries who take governance, legislation, following protocol: proper laid down procedures to the letter. they frown on impunity and disregard for the rule of law.

the case involved two countries: Nigeria and Norway. What has taken in Nigeria over here since the revelation of the act. Nothing. Absolutely not. I swear, we will never be able to finish thanking God for helping us kick Jonathan out saddle of leadership of Nigeria. Another four years of Jonathan would have been disastrous.

Thank you God. thank you Jesus.

Warships for what

lanrefront1:
These are countries who take governance, legislation, following protocol: proper laid down procedures to the letter. they frown on impunity and disregard for the rule of law.

the case involved two countries: Nigeria and Norway. What has taken in Nigeria over here since the revelation of the act. Nothing. Absolutely not. I swear, we will never be able to finish thanking God for helping us kick Jonathan out saddle of leadership of Nigeria. Another four years of Jonathan would have been disastrous.

Thank you God. thank you Jesus.

You didn't say it well enough , It would have been [size=14pt]THE END [/size]

Free operation for Boko haram, in my mumu mind , more than 1000 radicalized people have been recovered from sambisa forest, how come ?

Signing off on purchase of weapons ship by a known terrorist, Later we heard they'll bomb lagos if GEJ looses

Paying South African, Chad , and Niger Republic Mercenaries money to help fight Boko Haram while Nigerian army is claiming Victory

Endorsing smuggling funds to pay the said mercenaries in cash in South Africa through a private jet (Commission things )

Why won't S.A be xenophobic when they know how much their boys took from clueless ( Not that i am supporting Xenophobia)


My point being , everything wrong was in motion everything that'll destroy the country ....

Do not understate the evil he has done, over exaggerate it please !!!

They should return the proceeds of the money to Nigeria if they really feel sorry for their actions! Jonathan reign allowed criminals unrestricted freedom to live for the glory of theft and moral impropriety! Jonathan will be remembered as the very tip of disappointment and failure, the man who pushed Nigeria to tipping point!

We know it's all about the money for them. Who is deceiving who?