- As Buhari Seeks Collaboration On Maritime Security In Gulf Of Guinea
The trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, with the fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Mustapha Yerima, revealing how the defendant begged him to claim ownership of his multipurpose shopping mall worth over N1.8 billion.
The witness told the court that Badeh made the plea after operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stormed the shopping complex, which is still under construction.
Badeh Yerima is the Managing Director of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited, a firm the erstwhile military boss paid N1.2 billion to construct the mall situated at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone, A07, Close to Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Led in evidence yesterday by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness said EFCC initially thought the shopping mall was owned by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
According to Yerima, shortly after EFCC operatives visited the construction site and summoned him to their head office, Badeh, through different intermediaries, begged that he should not reveal that he was the actual owner of the property.
Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, told the court that he only discovered, Monday, that the witness made additional statement. He said the statement was only served on the defence yesterday.
Badeh’s lawyer confirmed service of the additional statement but sought time to study the document. Trial justice, Okon Abang, subsequently adjourned the matter till June 14, 15, 16 for cross-examination of the witness.
In the meantime, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday called for greater international collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders in tackling maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.
He made the call at an International Maritime Conference organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy in Lagos.Buhari, represented by the Minister for Defence, Mansur Mohammad Dan-Ali, said the challenges of maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea had gone beyond what Nigeria alone could deal with.He said: “The Nigerian Navy at 60 and since inception has applied only the most optimal policies and strategies to resolve maritime challenges in our maritime areas.
“They have remained constant in ensuring sea control and arrest of illegal bunkers, smugglers, pipeline vandals and other miscreants in the fight against illegalities in the nation’s maritime domain and beyond.”But the situation has gone beyond our capability to handle. It, therefore, calls for greater international collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and other international maritime stakeholders,” Buhari said.
He called for an appraisal of multinational approaches to enhancing collaboration for effective maritime security in the Gulf of GuineaIn his remark, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, said that maritime crimes and threats in the Gulf of Guinea called for serious concern as it affected economic lifeline of member states.”These maritime threats have become transnational and have gone beyond the capability of one nation to contain.
“Therefore, this conference would provide a platform to collectively offer the way forward that will address the myriads of challenges and enhance maritime policing, ” he said.In his address, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said international waterways were the main corridor through which commerce had nurtured relations among countries.
Ambode said sea piracy accounted for 30 per cent of attacks in African regional waters between 2003 and 2011, affecting commercial shipping and trade activities of countries.He said that the economic benefits which abound in maritime trade for African nations and investors could only be fully realised with the safety and security of the offshore boundaries.
“Unless we collectively tackle the challenges, it will continue to affect the fortunes of merchant vessels and fishing tourists negatively, with consequent impact on commerce and trade development for countries in Africa and around the world,” Ambode said.Also speaking, Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, commended the Navy for doing a lot to check the activities of pirates in the coastal areas, especially in Akwa Ibom.
“Our administration will continue to support and ensure strong partnership with the Navy in their quest to combat maritime crimes and ensure safety on our coastal areas,” Udom said.He said that the state would donate two Gulf Boats to the Navy to enhance its sea patrol in keeping the waters safe.
The conference, with the theme ‘Enhancing Collaboration for Effective Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea’, attracted military service chiefs, security experts, captains of industry and members of the diplomatic corps.
Vanguard with additional report from Shipping Position
