Gunboat In EFCC Custody Disappears

A multimillion gunboat under the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly disappeared.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said the NIMASA-Barugu boat, which sank on Saturday, 2 April, was the subject of litigation under the custody of the EFCC.

The NIMASA-Barugu, one of the gunboats in the Global West Vessels Specialists (GWVS)’s fleet, sank at the Kirikiri Terminal, behind NIMASA Resource Centre.

According to NAN, it was reported that the vessel sank at about 10:13 p.m on Saturday despite efforts to salvage it.

In a video circulating online, seafarers onboard the adjoining vessels blamed NIMASA for negligence, they stated that they had reported the impending disaster to NIMASA for a long time.

However, the Assistant Director, Public Relations of NIMASA, Osagie Edward, said both the boat and the management had remained a subject of litigation.

Mr. Osagie explained that the vessel under reference was one of Global West’s boats in service with the agency years ago.

“This boat has the name NIMASA-Barugu right from the days of the contract. There are also other boats in this contractual category in Warri,” stated the NIMASA spokesman.

“Collectively, the boats and their management have remained a subject of litigation and under the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for years.”

He further mentioned that NIMASA recently made concerted efforts to reactivate a few of the serviceable boats in this fleet but was constrained by the legal encumbrances due to the nature of the case in court.

“As a law-abiding entity, we approached the matter under sound legal advisory. Finally, it must be stated that this vessel was not in our jetty and under our management at the time of the incident,” the NIMASA statement added.

“The crew onboard does not report to NIMASA but Global West management, its owners.”