How Naval chiefs aided loss of ship, by witness
By Alex Olise and Emmanuel Badejo
MORE witnesses yesterday testified before the military tribunal trying three Naval chiefs over the missing vessel, MT African Pride.
In his testimony, the Base Intelligence Officer (BIO) NNS Beecroft, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lt. Adekunle Oladipo, said that prior to the disappearance of the ship, the number of ratings attached to it was reduced to one.
Oladipo, who said he knew about the ship's disappearance on August 10, 2004, alleged that the former Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Kolawole, allowed some Russians to visit the vessel.
Admiral Kolawole, alongside the former Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Rear Admiral Francis Agbiti and former Deputy Commandant, Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna, Rear Admiral Ibinabo Bob-Manuel, are on trial over the disappearance of MT African Pride.
Lt. Oladipo said that the security of the ship was the sole duty of the Commanding Officer of Beecroft.
Under cross-examination, he denied knowledge of any agreement between or among the accused officers on the disappearance of the ship.
Another witness, Lt. Commander A.Z. Gambo, said that he attended a meeting where the security of the missing vessel was discussed, adding that the meeting was headed by Admiral Kolawole.
Gambo added that although the missing vessel was discussed, no decision was reached.
He said that after the ship was reported missing, there was another meeting at the instance of Kolawole, who blamed the security unit for the incident.
While being cross-examined, the witness said he was not aware of any meeting between the first accused, Rear Admiral Agbiti and anybody leading to the disappearance of the vessel.
Also testifying, Commander T.D. Ikoli, the Command Intelligence Officer (CIO), said although he was aware of the likely security threat to MT African Pride, he did not discuss it with any of his superiors. He also denied being aware of any plan by the accused officers to cause the disappearance of the ship.
Before the trial began, Rear Admiral Joseph Ajayi appealed to journalists to report the court's proceedings correctly.
He was protesting reports in some national dailies.
At the resumed hearing, Ikponwhen, the lead prosecution counsel, had told the court that he had observed inaccurate reporting of the proceedings by the media.
He said that from what he had read, it was clear that journalists were working for the defence because they seemed to be reporting the defence more than the other parties.
Ikponwhen threatened that if the court did not call the journalists to order, he might be forced to make an application for them to be barred from covering its future sessions.
Counsel to Admiral Kolawole, Mr. Amain Ofordum, who said he agreed with the submission of the prosecution to an extent, said that the reports had not been in his client's favour.
Ajayi, who sought for the recognition of journalists in the court, urged them to ensure accurate reporting of the proceedings.
