HOW ISRAELI SWINDLED NAVY OVER DOCKYARD

There are indications that some staff at the Federal Ministry of Defence may have aided an Israeli firm, TP Marine Global Services, owned by one Mr. Amit Lichtenfeld, in swindling the Navy in the execution of the commercialization/concession joint venture project of the Naval Dockyard in Lagos.
Documents obtained by Peoples Daily show glaring breaches in the execution of the contractual agreement stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the part of TP Marine, headed by the Israeli.
Initially conceived for building and repairing of ships after its rehabilitation, the Federal Government was expected to earn about $500,000,000 per annum from the dockyard project.

But experts in Marine affairs describe the deal which was sealed through an MoU in April 2011 as a monumental fraud.
“Participation by the parties will be in the ratio of 30:70 between the Nigerian Navy and TP Marine Global Services Limited,” according to the MOU.
“The concession is a grievous fraud that has cost Nigeria fortunes,” Rabiu Hassan, a security consultant said, explaining that “the TP BV of Holland whose name was used to incorporate the Nigeria TP Marine Global was to be a technical partner because of its rich background in the construction of specialized military ships.
“There was no specific equity holding specified for TP Marine BV in the MoU. Mr. Amit of Dolyatec was to be a financial partner in the project.
“This was the original agreement but once Amit secured the MoU from Navy and signed it on behalf of TP Marine Global Services, the music changed.
“The fact is that TP Marine incorporated in Nigeria is owned 80 per cent by Amit while 20 per cent is owned by one Mr. Bakare Akande Lateef, Amit’s employee and office Accountant.”
Investigations show that after the concession, TP Marine Global Service has remained the exclusive private property of Mr. Amit of Dolyatec as the 30 per cent Nigerian Navy equity share was not reflected in the certified true copy of the document.
It was further learnt that having successfully used the profile of TP Marine BV of Holland as his technical partner to help secure the Navy deal, Amit has been using TP Marine BV’s flags and colors at the site of Naval Dockyard as a sign of physical possession but he has completely, dumped TP Marine BV from the deal.
Part of the commitments of the Navy as stipulated in the contract agreement include, provision of land space measuring approximately 10,218 square meters, allow TP Marine Nigeria Limited or its agents unrestricted access and use of the premises and its facilities for the purpose of carrying out any legal jobs subject to security clearance by the Nigerian Navy; and allow TP Marine to bring in other jobs to the facility and independently source and execute other jobs but for the benefit of the parties. Some of the responsibilities of TP Marine Global Services as enshrined in MoU include, installation of construction bay, workshop and support services facilities, provision of all logistics needed in designing, construction and operation of the facility including purchase of machinery, equipment and materials; and assisting the Nigerian Navy in technical training required for maintenance of Nigeria Navy vessels and machinery.
The Deputy Director (information) Navy Commander Suleiman Dahun who spoke with our correspondent said he could not lay his hand on the Navy’s copy of the contract agreement and requested Peoples Daily to avail him with a copy of the MOU between Navy and TP Marine to enable him cross check with engineering department.

Source: People’s Daily