Merchant Seafarers Issue Warning Letter to NIMASA Over Unpaid Crew of ADEBOMI 1
…Says Ship now secretly going for Sale
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria (MESAN) has issued a warning letter to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) not to issue clearance for the sale of MT ADEBOMI 1, alleging that the vessel and it’s owners were owing one of it’s member; Captain Williams Ogunsakin and his crew unpaid salaries.
In a letter to the Director General of NIMASA, dated 21stbof September 2022 and signed by a lawyer, S’Schweitzer Grorge for MESAN, the association informed that the matter was already in court, while the shipowners plan to dispose the vessel through the back door.
In year 2020, MESAN had raised an alarm that that Stallionaire Oil and Gas Limited, owners of Nigerian Ship MT ADEBOMI 1 was owing it’s crew salaries for more than one year.
The association alleged that the seafarers were not paid between December 2018 to May 2019 when the seafarers duly disembarked from the vessel without any fracas or complaints from their employer.
The association also alleged back then, that Stallionaire issued the Captain and entire crew dud cheque for their outstanding salary after replacing them with a new crew on May 11, 2019.
According to a petition signed by Capt Alfred Oniye, Secretary of MESAN, the affected crew include: Capt. Ogunshakin Williams (Master), Engr. Joseph Dibia (Chief Engineer) and Kolawole Bolakale Issa (Chief Cook), among others.
However in a fresh letter signed by the association lawyer and made available to DAILY TREND on Monday, it alleged that the crew are yet to be paid their allowances.
“Pursuant to our letter of May 27, 2020 with the above subject matter clearly highlighted as regard Captain William Rotimi Ogunsakin and the crews of MT ADEBOMI 1 unpaid salaries.
“It’s imperative to notify you that the matter is already in court and the concerned ship is put up for sale according to information reaching us from an impeccable source
“However, while we sit aloof to watchout for the next line of actions, it is trite law to send a note of warning to them, reminding them of the implication of their action.
“We are confident in your ability not to clear MT ADEBOMI 1 for sales, as we are beaconing on you to use your good office to expedite action at the earliest possible time” the letter reads in part