Senate proposes special tribunal for maritime criminals
The Senate Committee on the Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it would propose the establishment of a special tribunal for the prosecution of maritime criminals.
Chairman of the committee, Sen. Isa Maisau, stated this in Lagos when the committee members inspected facilities at the headquarters of the Western Naval Command (WNC) and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).
Maisau said the Senate would emplace a legislation to ensure that the tribunal starts and concludes litigation to lessen the burden on the Navy.
Said he, “We are looking at a situation where arrested vessels are taken care of in three months. We shall have a special tribunal to handle cases of arrested vessels so that within three months, all the exhibits are handed over to the appropriate agencies and prosecution is concluded.
“We will put legislation in place whereby such vessels are forfeited to the Federal Government to deter sponsors because if you auction them, they will go behind to buy it and continue the illegality.
“But if you put it to government use, it will deter criminals from venturing into criminality, given the fact that they will forfeit their vessel to the government.”
The Senator also said that the visit was necessitated by the need to have firsthand experience on the needs of the Navy, especially as the 2017 budget would soon be sent to the National Assembly.
He continued, “The Navy needs so much than the government is approving in the budget. About 75 to 80 per cent of the resources coming to government coffers lie within the maritime domain and the Navy is in charge of protecting the facilities.
“With the kind of budget, we are approving, the Navy cannot perform its functions effectively. We are trying to see how we can make a special presentation and appeal to the President, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Finance Minister and budget office to get intervention from other sources for the Navy.
“As a committee, we would ensure the Navy gets enough funds to perform its duties. If the resources are availed of the Navy, the activities of militants in the Niger Delta will reduce, because they have the discipline, capacity and well-trained officers to do it, but no equipment,” he said.
Maisau stressed that the country would do its best to salvage NNS Aradu because the Navy’s history would not be complete without her.
“We are even proposing a legislation to enable the military get direct allocation (some percentage) from the Federal Government so they can work effectively.
“A budgetary allocation of about N25 billion cannot do anything for a capital-intensive agency like the Navy. That money cannot even fuel the ships they use in one month because one vessel takes as much as 24 tankers of 33 litres.
“I am not happy with the situation of the things; I want a situation where we would be proud of the assets we have. The government has to look inwards to see how they can assist the Navy.”
Flag Officer Commanding of Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, lauded the committee for appreciating the challenges of the Navy, describing it as a good omen.
“These challenges are the issues the political masters of the past couldn’t fathom. We need more of these visits,” he noted.
Bobai said the command was looking towards establishing Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at
Takwa Bay and Tongeji Island, and would require assistance.
He also mentioned training of personnel, barracks accommodation, as well as providing financial support for the Navy by appropriating funds for the repairs of its platforms.
Bobai said the navy would require more locally- built patrol boats like NNS ANDONI because it was cost effective.
