The Nigerian Navy has regarded allegations of its Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s involvement in bunkering schemes and contract splitting fraud as blackmail against his person and office.
The rebuttal, contained in a statement and signed by the Navy’s Director of Information, Rear Admiral, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan was made available to THE WHISTLER on Saturday.
The Navy has been accused of accepting bribes estimated at $170 million, releasing oil tankers impounded for transporting stolen crude oil off Nigerian shores and dispatching gunboats of personnel for the loading of stolen crude on at least four vessels.
Advertisement
He is also being accused of multi-billion naira contract-splitting fraud in the last six months as well as offering the protection of the Nigerian Navy to oil thieves among others.
The Navy described the allegations as “untenable, baseless and untrue”, stating that there are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention and release of any vessel or persons found culpable in the maritime environment.
“It is until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further actions.
“Indeed, all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are being investigated and none of such vessels has been released as alleged,” the statement revealed.
According to the Navy, all awards alleged to have been awarded by the CNS in split contracts were false, given that “the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts”.
The statement, however, revealed that awards of such is the sole prerogative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as contracts awarded by the Navy follow due process in line with the laws of the Federation.
Given the rationale for the development, the Navy said, “The Service is aware of the coordinated frantic efforts to blackmail the office and person of the CNS by some disgruntled elements who are feeling the heat of the Nigerian Navy’s renewed vigour to fight crude oil theft and illegalities in the maritime domain as well as those who have in one way of the order shortchanged the Navy before now.
“Specifically, the continuous rejuvenated operations towards curbing oil theft has given the oil thieves sleepless nights hence the decision to engage in the malicious publications.
“It would be recalled that the Nigerian Navy recently launched OPERATION DELTA SANITY which provided for a holistic, more robust roadmap towards the reinvigorated stance of the NN towards the fight against crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities in the Nation’s maritime environment.
“Indeed, the NN is aware of these antics as it is expected considering the current resolve of the NN to engage oil thieves head on.
“The cartel hitherto believed no individual could confront its ranks. Fortunately, the recent achievements of the NN in this regard have put them on their heels hence the resort to cheap blackmail through immoral and compromised online media publishers.”
The Navy further buttressed her role in defending the nation’s maritime domain, which she said is an offshoot of the constitutional provisions, duly guided by extant laws and regulations including the arrest of vessels contravening any of the maritime laws and SPOMO Act 2019.
The Nigerian Navy enjoined members of the public to disregard “the malicious” claims while pledging to continue to ensure legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly.
“These distractions will in no way retract the NN’s resolve to confront these criminals who must be brought to justice for Nigeria’s economy to rebound.
“The security and economy of the Nation is greater than any group of persons that think they must continue to drain the country,” the Navy said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has begun a “comprehensive investigation into the matter”
describing the allegations as “serious”.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle also pledged to uphold the “highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigerian Armed Forces” during the investigation.
A Source in the Presidency told THE WHISTLER that the CNS risked a dishonourable discharge, court-martialed and is likely to be deprived of his status and benefits if found guilty of the allegations.