Norwegian government had sold a fleet of its decommissioned battleships as well as combat boats to the former Niger-Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo.
One might add, quite casually, that it was this same man - known infamously as Tompolo - who waged an insurgents' war - no less deadly than the current Boko Haram warfare - against the Federal Government of Nigeria. This man's team of militants attacked the Nigerian military, killing several and routinely halting Nigeria's oil and gas production.
As a matter of fact, it took a Yar'Adua amnesty in 2009 to stop the fighting. Since then, the man has been rewarded for his 'ingenious brutality' (for want of a better ward) and his closeness to the President Jonathan government has earned this magpie a few shiny treasure of his own - in the form of wealth via government contracts.
According to Premium Times magazine, Mr. Tompolo had initially received at least six decommissioned battleships from the Norwegian government - never mind that the amnesty deal meant Mr. Tompolo shouldn't be brandishing weapons at all.
The latest acquisition to Tompolo's 'armory is called the KNM Horten, which Premium Times describes as "a fast-attack craft now allegedly used for anti-piracy patrol in the Nigerian waters."
Usually, to make this type of transaction, the foreign affairs minister of Nigeria would need to grant export license to the arms dealer - Tompolo - but we have discovered that a US-based shell maritime Security Company (called CAS Global) has helped Norway evade this requirement (because CAS Global happens to have the selfsame license.)
Attempts to contact CAS Global so far have failed.
The company's website reads: “We have significant skill sets and personnel in two key operational disciplines. Within the Maritime Industry, we specialise in offshore support vessels & personnel, mainly, but not exclusively, for oil and gas multinationals. We also work with multi-national shipping companies and consortiums to provide vessel escort services in high risk areas."
Tompolo runs Global West Vessel Service, which handles maritime security issues for the Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Although the maritime security issues in question are basically anti-piracy, there is suspicion that Tompolo's firm engages in piracy.
The key question then becomes: why has Norway sold such formidable hardware to a man who has a glaring history of violence? Nigeria's lawmakers are agitated and upset over this, and so is the polity.
However, Norway has a defense. Frode Andersen, communications head of the Norwegian State Department said "“As far as we can see, the export of KNM Horten has 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.”
Nigeria's military hasn't responded to this development yet.
Reports by a Norwegian newspaper, Dagbladet, said that the fast-speed Hauk-class guided missile boats had been re-armed with new weaponry.
The report also revealed that Ekpemupolo’s most recent purchase is a KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft now used in fighting piracy in Nigeria’s waterways.
It was learnt that in spite of his alleged history of violence, Tompolo, now controls the Global West Vessel Service, a privately owned contractor for maritime security for the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency.
Buying arms from Norway requires an export license from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ships were reportedly sold first to CAS Global, a British security company that has such a license, after which Ekpemupolo reportedly bought the ships from the British company.
Dagblade reported that the seven Norwegian ships are now part of the company’s maritime fleet patrolling under a contract for the Federal Government.
One might add, quite casually, that it was this same man - known infamously as Tompolo - who waged an insurgents' war - no less deadly than the current Boko Haram warfare - against the Federal Government of Nigeria. This man's team of militants attacked the Nigerian military, killing several and routinely halting Nigeria's oil and gas production.
As a matter of fact, it took a Yar'Adua amnesty in 2009 to stop the fighting. Since then, the man has been rewarded for his 'ingenious brutality' (for want of a better ward) and his closeness to the President Jonathan government has earned this magpie a few shiny treasure of his own - in the form of wealth via government contracts.
According to Premium Times magazine, Mr. Tompolo had initially received at least six decommissioned battleships from the Norwegian government - never mind that the amnesty deal meant Mr. Tompolo shouldn't be brandishing weapons at all.
The latest acquisition to Tompolo's 'armory is called the KNM Horten, which Premium Times describes as "a fast-attack craft now allegedly used for anti-piracy patrol in the Nigerian waters."
Usually, to make this type of transaction, the foreign affairs minister of Nigeria would need to grant export license to the arms dealer - Tompolo - but we have discovered that a US-based shell maritime Security Company (called CAS Global) has helped Norway evade this requirement (because CAS Global happens to have the selfsame license.)
Attempts to contact CAS Global so far have failed.
The company's website reads: “We have significant skill sets and personnel in two key operational disciplines. Within the Maritime Industry, we specialise in offshore support vessels & personnel, mainly, but not exclusively, for oil and gas multinationals. We also work with multi-national shipping companies and consortiums to provide vessel escort services in high risk areas."
Tompolo runs Global West Vessel Service, which handles maritime security issues for the Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Although the maritime security issues in question are basically anti-piracy, there is suspicion that Tompolo's firm engages in piracy.
The key question then becomes: why has Norway sold such formidable hardware to a man who has a glaring history of violence? Nigeria's lawmakers are agitated and upset over this, and so is the polity.
However, Norway has a defense. Frode Andersen, communications head of the Norwegian State Department said "“As far as we can see, the export of KNM Horten has 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.”
Nigeria's military hasn't responded to this development yet.
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