The House of Representatives said on Thursday that it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the six warships said to have been procured by an ex-militant leader, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a, Tompolo.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, also added that the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly would submit their report on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to the National Assembly on Friday.
The House described the alleged purchase of the six warships by Tompolo as “scary,” saying that it raised security concerns at a time the country was facing tough security challenges.
Although, the Nigerian Navy said on Wednesday that the warships belonged to NIMASA, a Federal Government agency, Mohammed said the House would be interested in knowing how a private individual was now performing a function that was statutorily the Navy’s.
“That function should have been performed by the Navy.
“When we resume in January, our relevant committees will be looking into the issue,” he added.
Mohammed recalled that, two years ago, the House moved to investigate a pipeline security contract the government awarded to Tompolo, but it was portrayed as going against the Executive.
“Each time we talk in the House, we are like a bunch of nuisances.
“We had raised this issue of involving private individuals in our waterways in the past, but the House was not taken seriously.
“Now, we are where we are today,” he stated.
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