"The Acquisition Of Seven Warships By Niger Delta Militant, Tompolo, Is Illegal And Poses A Threat To The Nation’S Security" -- Says A Constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay

A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, says the acquisition of seven warships by Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo, is illegal and poses a threat to the nation’s security.

Sagay, who condemned the development in a statement on Tuesday, said the Nigerian constitution did not approve of any individual carrying out security duties on the Nigerian waters except the country’s Armed Forces.

The statement came a few weeks after Tompolo allegedly kidnapped seven journalists

He said, “The news of the recent acquisition by Tompolo’s Company, Global West Vessel Service of seven war vessels, is extremely disturbing and destabilising. Given the volatile nature of Warri/Benin Rivers Area, and the overbearing violence of the Ijaw against the Itsekiri in particular, this is a sinister and dangerous development.

Prof. Itse Sagay

“There is no provision in the Nigerian law that permits the engagement of private persons and outfits to carry arms and engage in security operations on the Nigerian waters. This duty is the exclusive responsibility of the Nigerian Navy. Section 3 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A 20 of the 2004 Laws of Nigeria provides that the Armed Forces shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and such other duties as the National Assembly may, from time to time, prescribe or direct by an Act.

“Notwithstanding the generality of the provisions of subsection (3) of this section – the Navy shall, in particular, be further charged with – (i) enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of all customs, laws, including anti-bunkering, fishery and immigration laws of Nigeria at sea (ii) enforcing and assisting in co-coordinating the enforcement of national and international maritime laws ascribed or acceded to by Nigeria.”

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government and security agencies not to take the matter lightly, describing it as a blatant illegality.

“Therefore the present situation in which Mr. Government Ekpemupolo has been allowed to bring in a naval fleet into the Western Delta area of Nigeria constitutes not only a threat to peace in that area, but also a blatant illegality,” he said.

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Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.