Families of sailors who drowned during an accident involving their tanker; MT. Tank and another; MT. Elixir have accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of bribery for failing to divulge useful information about the escape of MT Elixir.
The families are also appealing to the minister of transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to hold the regulatory agency responsible for allowing the vessel to sail out of the country despite the incident that claimed many lives.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, wife to one of the missing crew; Mrs Esther Edoloro disclosed that NIMASA is in possession of all necessary information about the ship, saying that it will unacceptable for the agency to say it has no document about the ship on Nigerian waters.
“I don’t even know what NIMASA is doing in this matter, honestly. To me, they have collected bribe from the other vessel; MT Elixir, because I don’t see any reason why they will just release the other vessel without even giving us concrete information about the vessel”, she lamented.
Even my lawyer has been asking them for the information; they refused to give any information about the other company, which is not supposed to be. They are supposed to carry us along because this is human life we are talking about for the past three months,” she added.
According to her, the lawyer has been demanding for information about the vessel that escaped after the accident, but NIMASA has refused to release details about the incident and the vessel in particular.
Looking dejected, she told journalists that, “My lawyer has served them (NIMASA) two papers before and the one he is going to serve them on Monday will be the third one. No response yet despite all the papers he has served them”.
She also expressed confidence in the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, urging him to look into the matter and ask NIMASA why they are hoarding such vital information.
“What I know is that NIMASA has collected money from the other vessel”, she alleged.
Speaking further, she added : “When my lawyer was talking to the company’s lawyer, even the company’s lawyer wants to sue NIMASA, because they are not giving them concrete information, they are not giving them the information they need to go on with the case”
” I believe NIMASA has collected money from MT Elixir, that is why they kept silence. ”
“That is the reason why they are not saying anything; they don’t want to step into the matter. ”
“I don’t know if there will be a way for me to reach our new transport minister, I will be very happy because I know he will do something about it.”
When asked about her expectation from the transport minister on the case, Mrs Edoloro said: “I want him to look into this matter, let them bring out the information about the other vessel, so that we will know what we are doing.”
” At least with his help, I believe NIMASA will bring out all the information about the other vessel, because I believe that whichever vessel that is coming into Nigeria water, NIMASA has their records”
“They are supposed to give concrete information about the other vessel, so that we can know what we are doing.”
” I want the minister to prevail on NIMASA to bring out the information we need.”
” That is, the name of the company that the other vessel is representing with other things. That is what we want them to do for us.”
But, responding via telephon, Deputy Director, Public Affairs of NIMASA; Hajia Lami Tumaka said that lawyers to all concerned parties are meeting on the way forward.
She said the lead lawyers of the two ships are talking, even as she urged our correspondent to send her an email on the questions.
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