The petition, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Adegoke, was addressed to NIMASA’s Director General, and copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Director of NIMASA’s Legal Unit.
Nearly 300 Nigerian cadets currently training in India are at risk of deportation following a dispute between the Springdale Academy of Maritime Education and Training Trust (SAMET) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The Indian academy has alleged that NIMASA defaulted on a contractual obligation by not fulfilling payment commitments outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2021, thereby breaching the agreement.
In a petition dated July 19, 2024, SAMET, through its Nigerian legal representative, Kunle Adegoke & Co, demanded immediate payment of all outstanding sums as per the submitted invoices.
The petition, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Adegoke, was addressed to NIMASA’s Director General, and copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Director of NIMASA’s Legal Unit.
SAMET’s complaint centers on allegations against NIMASA’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services (ML&CS), Mr. Jibril Abba.
The academy accused Mr. Abba of attempting to renegotiate the terms of the MoU in an “unconventional manner” for personal gain, which they claim is contrary to the agreement’s provisions.
According to the petition, NIMASA had agreed to cooperate fully with SAMET, provide necessary information, and make timely payments for services provided.
SAMET claims it has fulfilled all its obligations under the MoU, including training the cadets and expending financial resources to meet the demands of NIMASA. However, SAMET alleges that NIMASA has failed to honor its commitment to pay the academy’s invoices, some of which have been outstanding for over three months.
Earlier in 2023, SAMET was requested by NIMASA to train an additional 100 cadets, with the academy submitting an invoice of $24,300 per cadet. Despite the approval for this additional training by NIMASA’s management in April 2024, SAMET claims that the agency has not made any payments for the services rendered.
SAMET’s legal representative, Kunle Adegoke, expressed concern that the 296 cadets currently undergoing training in India could face deportation due to NIMASA’s failure to meet its financial obligations.
He also alleged that the agency’s Executive Director has engaged in bullying and harassment of SAMET representatives, further complicating the situation.
The petition calls for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the Executive Director, with SAMET seeking assurances that future business relations between the parties will adhere strictly to best international practices.
Join our Channel...