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The Maritime Elders Forum has criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over what it described as an unprofessional and unlawful arrest and continued detention of the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, without any formal charge or official explanation.
In an open letter to the anti-graft agency, the group, led by its Convener, Elder Asu Beks, expressed concern that more than one week after Jamoh’s arrest, the ICPC had neither issued a public statement nor filed charges, a situation it said undermines due process and violates the former NIMASA boss’s fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution.
The Forum argued that Jamoh, who served as NIMASA Director-General between 2020 and 2024, is constitutionally presumed innocent and should not be subjected to prolonged detention without trial or access to his family and legal counsel.
Highlighting Jamoh’s tenure, the Maritime Elders Forum recalled that he oversaw major reforms in maritime administration, safety and security, including the implementation of the Deep Blue Project, which significantly curbed piracy in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
They noted that the Deep Blue Project, launched in June 2021, deployed special mission aircraft, helicopters, vessels, fast interceptor boats and armoured vehicles, and contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy red list.
The group also credited Jamoh with spearheading the enforcement of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act and repositioning the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme in line with global standards.
According to the Forum, the ICPC’s silence and handling of the matter sends the wrong signal and raises questions about professionalism and respect for the rule of law, urging the commission to either promptly charge Jamoh in court or release him unconditionally.
