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Tag: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

  • Osibanjo vows to make it difficult for ghost workers

    Osibanjo vows to make it difficult for ghost workers

    Vice President Yemi Osibanjo Monday said that the President Buhari led administration will make it difficult for ghost workers to return to the public service payroll.

    Speaking at the Inter Agency Task Team (IATT) International Anti-Corruption Day 2017 in Abuja, he said that the ghost workers, whose names had been removed from the payroll had always found their ways back into the system.

    But his Special Adviser, Adegbolahan Adeniran, who represented him in the occasion, said that government has now put measures in place to making their return impossible.

    He said that the “Federal Government has used its anti-corruption war to weed out 50,000 ghost workers from the payroll. We are going to make it difficult for ghost workers to return.”

    According to him, owing to the operation of the Treasury Single account (TSA) government has blocked so many financial leakages in different government agencies.

    He cited examples with the Joint Administration and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Maritime administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    He recalled that JAMB never remitted more than N3million into the federation account but only this year it has remitted N5billion and still has another N3billion to remit for the year.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the chairman, National Stakeholders Working Group (NWSG) of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) , Dr. Kayode Fayemi said that the government on July 5, adopted the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

    He said that Nigeria has upon return to civil rule, had a strong ant-corruption policy embedded in both the constitution and several organic laws.

    But the policy, according to him,” has now resulted in the creation of the several anti-corruption initiatives to recover and apply proceeds of corruption.

    “We have the Whistle-Blower policy which has yielded significant dividends. At the international level, Nigeria has been at the forefront of proposing resolutions on the recovery and return of stolen assets kept in foreign jurisdictions.

    “We have also proposed resolutions to combat illicit financial flows most of which are from developing counties.”

    The policy, said Fayemi, has instituted several initiatives to recover and apply proceeds of corruption.

    H said that “we are not relenting in our effects to deal with the issues. We continue to see quickening of efforts in enforcement and sanctions as well as innovative methods to prevent corruption.”

  • Akpobolokemi ordered to explain role in alleged N2.6b fraud

    Akpobolokemi ordered to explain role in alleged N2.6b fraud

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, to explain his role in an alleged N2.6billion fraud.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba overruled and dismissed the ‘no case’ submission filed by Akpobolokemi and five other co-defendants.

    The other defendants are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and two firms, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The judge ordered them to enter their defence on October 30.

    Justice Buba said the arguments on the no-case submission by defence counsel, Joseph Nwobike SAN, was without merit.

    He upheld the argument of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.

    Justice Buba held: “From the evidence of the first prosecution witness, it is well established that all the defendants have a case to answer.

    “The exhibits tendered and testimonies of other witnesses have established that there is a prima facie case against the defendants. I see no merit in this application. This application lacks merit, so, it is overruled. The defendants should open their defence to prove their innocence”.

    On December 4, 2015 the EFCC arraigned the defendants on a 22-count charge of diverting N2.6b from NIMASA coffers between December 2013 and May 2015.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    The alleged offences contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecution closed its case after calling 12 witnesses.

    But the defendants, rather than open their defence, filed no-case submissions, claiming that the EFCC failed to link their clients with the alleged funds diversion.

    Specifically, Nwobike said Akpobolokemi could not be liable because ex-President Jonathan, and not Akpobolokemi, approved the security project and the money disbursed.

    Other defendants’ counsel, Mr. Seni Adio (SAN), Ige Asemudara and Emeka Onyeke similarly urged the court to hold that the prosecution failed to link their clients to the alleged crime.

    But opposing the application, the prosecution maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses called and the 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi and others to the alleged fraud.

    Oyedepo argued that Akpobolokemi, as head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, could not “by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.”

    He said even though it was ex-President Jonathan who approved the security project and sanctioned the disbursement of the funds, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA who constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved funds for the activities of the committee.

  • N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, overruled a no case submission by former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), Patrick Akpobolokemi, charged with N2.6 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) had on Dec. 4, 2015, arraigned Akpobolokemi alongside five others, for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013 and May 2015.

    EFCC claimed the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    Also charged along with Akpobolokemi are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges pressed against them.
    The prosecution had then opened its case and during trial, called a total of 12 witnesses and tendered 77 exhibits in a bid to establish its case.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the accused, through their lawyers, filed no-case submissions, contending that the prosecution failed to established a prima facie case against them to warrant their entering any defence.

    They had urged the court to uphold the no case submission and discharge the accused.

    Delivering his ruling on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba noted that a plethora of cases had been cited by learned counsel in arguing their application for a no case submission.

    Buba, however, pointed out that in delivering ruling on such no case submission the court is enjoined to keep its ruling as short as possible.

    He said:“There are a plethora of cases listed by counsel, but the court is enjoined not to write its ruling as if it is writing its final judgment, but must keep its ruling as short as possible”.

    Buba held that the charge was before the court and its ingredients are clear.

    “The court therefore, cannot see the fuse in the argument that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants.

    “When a judge is faced with a ruling on a no case submission, it is permissible for the ruling to be brief and simply read: “you have a case to answer.

    “Consequently, the no case submission fails and is hereby overruled”.

    The court therefore, adjourned the case to Oct. 30, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 for the defence to open its case.

    Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission, his lawyer, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), had contended that the EFCC failed to link his client with the alleged diversion of funds from NIMASA.

    He added that his signature to such effect was never shown to the court, as such the first accused could not be held liable because he did not approve the security project and money disbursed.

    Nwobike had also described the evidence given against the accused by prosecution witness, as mere hearsay with no legal weight.

    He, had therefore, urged the court to come to the conclusion, that the first accused cannot be called upon to enter any defence, because no prima facie case had been established against him.

    Other defence counsels had also made their arguments on their no case submission.

    In response, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses and 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi to the alleged fraud.

    He had argued that being the head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, Akpobolokemi could not by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.

    The prosecutor had further argued that even if it was the former president that approved the security project, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA at the time, and constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved its funds.

    He further submitted that the prosecution had established that, rather than its intended purpose, the funds were illegally converted to the personal use of the accused.

    In the 22 count charges, the EFCC alleged that the accused induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795 million under false pretence and that the sum represented the cost for the implementation of the Security Code in Nigeria.

    The alleged offence contravened the provisions of Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    NAN

  • NANS applauds JAMB over N5bn remittance to FG

    NANS applauds JAMB over N5bn remittance to FG

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) for remitting the sum of N5 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government.

    NANS’ President, Mr Chinonso Obasi, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said such remittance from JAMB within a short period under the leadership of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede showed a great deal of probity.

    Obasi said that he was in support of the Federal Government’s move to probe the former administrations of JAMB and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ).

    He urged the Federal Government to extend the probe to other agencies.

    The Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided by President Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered the probe of past heads of JAMB and NIMASA over poor remittances in the past.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, told the FEC that JAMB for the first time remitted N5 billion to the government with a balance of N3 billion still to be remitted.

    She said it was a big difference when compared to maximum N3 million per annum remitted in the past.

    Obasi said that the remittance of such amount from a non-focal revenue generating agency of government underscored the importance of transparency in the administration and management of government business.

    “The development is highly commendable and all heads of Federal Government agencies and parastatals should emulate the registrar of JAMB.

    “I urge President Buhari to beam his eagle eyes on all other agencies of the Federal Government to ensure that all loopholes that encourage corrupt practices are prevented and blocked.

    “Corruption is evil and the worst thing that can happen to a country in dire need of financial resources for development.

    “I wonder why any right thinking person would choose to abuse public trust bestowed on him by engaging in corrupt practices, stealing public funds that can used in addressing other development challenges,’’ he said.

    Obasi called on Nigerians occupying public offices to endeavour to be responsible and patriotic in the management of government businesses.

    He reiterated his call for the inclusion of the association in anti-corruption fight in order to stamp out the scourge and channel resources to critical needs of national development.

    He said that the association would reach out to Federal Government agencies with a view to fostering interaction and building leadership capacity for Nigerian students.

  • Make every Naira count, FG urges agencies

    Make every Naira count, FG urges agencies

    The federal government has urged Government Agencies to recognize the current financial priorities of the nation and cut their costs, eliminate wastages and block revenue leakages.

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun made the appeal at a one day workshop on “Compliance with Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 (As Amended) and Presidential Executive Order No.002 of 18th May, 2017 held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium Tuesday for heads of Public Revenue Generating Agencies (PRGA).

    The finance Minister warned agency heads that “under the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, ‘Every Naira Counts’ and that “whether funds were generated from oil or from fees” the same standard of accountability for public money would apply.”

    Adeosun explained that many agencies were engaged in quasi commercial activities on behalf of government and were therefore expected to manage those organisations in a manner that maximized operating surplus.

    She noted that in other countries like United Kingdom and United States of America, government functions such as VISA processing, Passport issuance, Company Registration and regulation were major revenue earners.

    However, in Nigeria many agencies were operating in such a manner that returned minimal funds to Government.

    Adeosun said the cause of these dwindling revenue include wastage, illegal recruitments, bloated expenses, loans to staff and use of expensive consultants.

    The Minister reminded Agencies that a Circular had been issued which restricted allowable expenses in line with reforms occurring across Government businesses.

    She further informed agencies that compliance checks would be undertaken regularly to ensure that all agencies adhere to the new requirements.

    Adeosun also commended a number of agencies that have improved considerably in their revenue remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), these include the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which had remitted over N5 billion and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which has significantly improved its remittances.

    She encouraged other agencies to urgently review their operational cost and revenue with a view to increase remittances to Government coffers.

    Adeosun informed the participants that the Ministry of Finance planned to publish the performance of agencies.

    In his address, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, also advised the Agencies to use Professional Treasury Officers in accounting proceedings to ensure efficiency in line with International Public Sector Accounting.

    Former Accountant General of the Federation, Chief Kayode Naiyeju encouraged heads of agencies to look inward and be more creative in generating revenue for the government.

     

  • NIMASA debunks advert on employment

    NIMASA debunks advert on employment

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it has not launched a recruitment campaign of any kind now.

    The Head, Corporate Communication Team of NIMASA, Mr Isichei Osamgbi, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.

    Osamgbi said, “The attention of NIMASA has been drawn to the misinformation making the round in media, particularly online platforms, that there is an ongoing recruitment exercise in the agency’’.

    He said the agency was not associated with any of the adverts being peddled on various social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting citizens seeking legitimate employment in the organization in a statement.

    “This clarification is necessitated by the recruitment advert supposedly floated by the agency and circulated on various social media platforms with the intention of misleading and defrauding Nigerians.

    “The agency’s management under the leadership of Dr Dakuku Peterside will continue to operate within the tenets of its core values of commitment, accountability, discipline and transparency,’’ he said.

    Osamgbi said that NIMASA would keep to its core values in dealing with its stakeholders, including Nigerians, who might wish to contribute to the development of the country through employment in NIMASA.

    “The most common tactics of the scam involved: twitter and text messages, e-mails, as well as letters inviting desperate job seekers for fake job interviews at different locations across the country claiming to be consultants to NIMASA.

    “The agency has informed appropriate authorities about the activities of these unscrupulous elements who are going about peddling false information to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “We appeal to members of the public, particularly job seekers, to treat any of such adverts as fake, as the agency is currently not in the process of employing.

    “Anyone who entertains such invitation does so at his or her own risk.

    “For the umpteenth time, NIMASA as a responsible corporate citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not commissioned or contracted any individual or group to engage in recruitment of anybody on its behalf.

    “At the appropriate time, NIMASA will advertise its available vacancies for qualified Nigerians to apply,’’ he said.

  • NIMASA introduces new cabotage policy

    A new Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) has gone into operation in the country,the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced Friday.

    The Director-General of the agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said the new policy was to facilitate a better  coastal and inland trade regime and to  secure jobs for qualified Nigerians in the maritime sector.

    Chief spokesman for NIMASA,Mr Isichei Osamgbi, quoted Peterside as saying that with the NCCS regime, the agency  would no longer consider applications for grant of waiver on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in cabotage trade.

    “The era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over,” he said.

    “The NCCS will point a new direction to our cabotage regime as the agency will no longer consider application for grant of waiver on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade.

    “This is with regards to 2nd officer, 2nd engineer, 2nd mate, down to able seamen, ratings and stewards,” he said.

    The director-general stated that special applications for captains, chief engineers, chief officers, and 1st mate, in the absence of qualified Nigerians, would be considered on merit.

    “It is on the condition that such an organisation will plan to train a Nigerian and make a transition plan to ensure that the Nigerian takes over the job within one year,” he said.

    He said that the whole essence of this was to ensure that Nigerians were not deprived of the jobs due to them on showing requisite qualifications for the job.

    Peterside pledged that NIMASA would continue to work closely with stakeholders to support and promote indigenous participation in the Nigerian maritime sector.

    He advised all relevant government agencies and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to collaborate with the agency in harnessing opportunities available in the nation’s maritime space.

     

  • NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    The Senate on Thursday, gave the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman, four days to explain the whereabouts of over 282 vessels allegedly missing from the sea ports.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate’s Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, gave the ultimatum in Abuja, at an investigative hearing on N30 trillion lost through leakages in Customs and other agencies.

    Uzodinma, who expressed displeasure with the managing director for not honouring the committee’s two previous invitations, said the information on the vessels was imperative and must be available within four days.

    He threatened that the senate may be compelled to pursue a financial crime case against Usman should he fail to heed the committee’s directive.

    “We are looking for these vessels. We have the date of arrival, the ports of discharge and manifest.

    “Everything is with us but in information available to us, no money was collected by Customs, the NPA or any other person.

    “So you have four days to do your written explanation otherwise, we will consider it a financial crime,’’ he said.

    According to Uzodinma, there are also recent missing vessels that we have discovered.

    “I mean recent ones that happened under the new management.

    “The NPA is the custodian of the vessels; it received the cargoes and the terminal is theirs.

    “We want to know under whose authority the cargoes were released, “he said.

    The lawmaker said that the committee had also uncovered the activities of a port cabal that had defrauded the nation to the tune of over N30 trillion.

    “It is common knowledge that infractions abound in daily transactions at the nation’s ports, commercial banks, shipping companies, terminal owners and operators.

    “They connive at ease with officials to defraud the nation of trillions of Naira.

    “Preliminary evidence before us suggests that this is the case in all sea ports,’’ he said.

    He expressed concern that the leakages and infractions were costing the country huge revenue losses, while also constituting security threat.

    The lawmaker, however, expressed optimism that the Senate was determined to tackle the assault on the economy.

    He said that in doing so, the committee would be minded by the reality that those who wanted to bleed the nation to death without remorse must be dealt with without reprieve.

    “Consequently, all those indicted in this crime will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The nature and methodologies of these infractions include abuse of Form M and violation of foreign exchange manual issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), incorrect classification, under-valuation and incorrect declaration.

    “Others are incorrect origin, error in calculation, temporary importation, exemptions and waivers, foreign exchange manipulations, unit cost analysis on excise, smuggling and illegal removal of cargo from terminals and lack of exit certificate by vessels.

    “We shall zero our search light into these areas of infraction and we are certain that our suspicions shall be confirmed.

    “Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers Council(NSC), shipping companies , operators of bonded terminals and importers and exporters have questions to answer,’’ he said.
    Uzodinma emphasised that the joint committee would carry out its assignment without fear or favour.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, decried the indicting reports about the ports.

    Saraki said that it was disturbing to hear that trillions of Naira in revenue was lost annually within the import and export value chain as a result of financial leakages caused through various malpractice and infractions within the system.

    He said that the Senate would use its oversight functions to expose corruption and ensure that all loopholes and leakages in the revenue system were blocked.

    “We are determined to reverse these financial leakages to enable us to get the much-needed resources to fund our children’s education, healthcare and fix the potholes on our roads.

    “I urge you not leave any stone unturned to ensure that we incrementally eliminate waste and corruption in the management of our resources,’’ he said.

    The president of the senate expressed confidence in the joint committee to carry out a thorough job that would help to sanitise the system.

  • Shippers’ association urges NIMASA to stop cargo diversion

    Shippers’ association urges NIMASA to stop cargo diversion

    The Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS) has urged the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to assist in stopping Nigerian cargoes being diverted to ports of neighbouring countries.

    The President of the association, Mr Jonathan Nicol, made the call when the executives of SALS visited NIMASA headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Nicol solicited the assistance of NIMASA in improving import business through favourable import policies.

    “Reduction of volume of imports has accounted for low income for NIMASA and other agencies.

    “Few years back, our association made an annual income of over 30,000,000 dollars monthly.

    “That was when we had over 100 vessels waiting to berth at our harbour.

    “We also noticed that most of our on-board cargoes are now sent to Republic of Benin, Togo, Accra, Burkina Faso and Mauritania due to unfavourable government policies,” he said.

    The shippers said that government’s policies had not been attractive, adding that the policies were also affecting NIMASA’s revenue.

    NIMASA

    Nicol explained that NIMASA’s fees were based on vessel tonnage, which he said had depleted grossly in recent times.

    According to him, we need more vessels to berth, more infrastructures and that is why we are here.

    Nicol commended the management of NIMASA for the bold steps being taken at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to revamp the economy of the nation.

    Responding, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, pledged the agency’s support to enable the shippers remain in business.

    Peterside, who was represented by the Director, Shipping Development of NIMASA, said that the agency had put in place measures to ensure that shippers have access to cargoes.

    “NIMASA has made efforts to ensure the nation has a national carrier.

    “Over 70 per cent of rated seafarers are Nigerians but they still need to develop their competency to get on board vessels,” he said.

    He said that the agency had put in place measures to ensure that shippers have access to cargo and that the cargo would no longer be on Free On Board (FOB) but on Cost Insurance Freight (CIF).

  • Alleged scam: Appeal Court overturns ex-NIMASA DG’s conviction

    Alleged scam: Appeal Court overturns ex-NIMASA DG’s conviction

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Thursday overturned the five-year jail sentence slammed on a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Temisan Raymond Omatseye, for alleged contract splitting.

    The appellate court discharged and acquitted Omatseye of all the 24- count charge for which he was convicted at the lower court.

    It set aside the May 20, 2016 judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which convicted Omatseye for bid rigging and contract splitting.

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia had found Omatseye culpable in a N1.5 billion contract scam following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    She ruled that the ex-NIMASA chief awarded contracts above the stipulated N2.5million threshold and, accordingly, convicted him in 24 out of 27 counts but discharged and acquitted him in three others.

    But the appellate court held among others that the trial court did not properly evaluate the evidence.

    The court, presided over by Justice Yargata Nimpar, resolved all five grounds of appeal in the appellant’s favour.

    Other members of the three-man panel were Justice Adejumo Obaseki and Justice Abraham Georgewill.

    In reaching its decision, the court considered four issues for determination, including whether under Section 16(1)(A) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, approval for spending over the threshold constituted an offence.

    Justice Yargata Nimpar, who read the judgment, considered whether the trial court properly evaluated the evidence.

    She said: “I found that it did not.”

    “The long and short of it is that, the appeal succeeds. The prosecution should not ride roughshod over the Constitution.

    “The judiciary will do the war on corruption more harm by declaring someone a criminal, where no offence has been committed.

    “I find merit in the appeal. The conviction is hereby set aside and the appellant is hereby discharged and acquitted.”