Norway defends sale of warships to ex-militant

The Norwegian government says it cannot be held responsible for the six decommissioned Norwegian warships sold to ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

In all, Tompolo, a former commander of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), owns seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships, his most recent acquisition being the KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft now allegedly engaged in piracy off Nigerian seas.

The export of arms from Norway requires an export licence from that country’s ministry of foreign affairs.

The ships were first sold to CAS Global, a British security company that has such licence, and Ekpemupolo bought the ships from the British company.

Questions have been asked on why a man who was recently fingered in the kidnap of 14 journalists would have access to Norway’s arms, but Frode Anderson, head of communications at the Norwegian State Department, has defended the arms sale.

“As far as we can see, the export of KNM Horten has followed correct procedure and terms of export to Great Britain,” Anderson told the Dagbladet.

“The re-export from Great Britain to Nigeria is a question to be handled solely by British export control authorities.”

KNM Horten was sold to the UK company in 2012, recorded as working for a fishery.

Tompolo now controls the Global West Vessel Service, a privately-owned contractor for maritime security for the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency, while the seven Norwegian ships are now part of the company’s maritime fleet, allegedly acting as pirates while patrolling for the Nigerian government.

Once declared “the most wanted man in Nigeria” in 2009 during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Tompolo, now enjoys close relationship with the government after amnesty.