•Tinubu
A coalition of human rights activists and lawyers has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption, crude oil theft, and procurement fraud estimated at N8 billion against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff.
The coalition, which includes prominent figures such as Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, Comrade Mohammed Suleiman, Aisha Waliki and Comrade Ogunwoye Samson, accused the Naval Chief of widespread corruption, reports Sunday Vanguard.
In a petition filed through the Office of the Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Bello Matawalle, the coalition stated, “Our nation’s resources are at risk of being plundered by those charged with their safekeeping. The allegations against Vice Admiral Ogalla threaten to tarnish the integrity of our armed forces and jeopardize Nigeria’s economic stability.”
The group alleged multiple incidents where the Nigerian Navy, purportedly under Vice Admiral Ogalla’s command, allegedly protected ships involved in illegal crude oil operations, such as MT PRAISEL, MT KALI, and MT Tura. “The irony that those designated to combat oil theft are allegedly shielding the perpetrators is stark. Documented evidence, including nighttime escort operations recorded on video, clearly indicates systemic corruption,” they asserted.
The petition also outlined suspicions of Vice Admiral Ogalla’s involvement in contract splitting and procurement fraud, where he allegedly awarded 30 contracts to a single company, each just below the mandatory oversight threshold. This act, a flagrant breach of the Procurement Act, reportedly cost Nigeria over N8 billion.
$170million alleged bribe: Navy speaks
In a response, Nigerian Navy dismissed the allegations of $170million bribe to the CNS, published in an online medium, for the purposes of releasing ships arrested for illegal bunkering as well as crude oil contract scam, saying they are coordinated efforts to blackmail Ogalla due to the Navy’s renewed vigour to fight crude oil theft
The Navy said the rejuvenated operations towards curbing oil theft have given oil thieves sleepless nights hence the decision to engage in malicious publications.
Director of Naval Information, Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a statement titled, ‘Sponsored Malicious Publication Against the Office and Person of the Chief of Naval Staff’.
It reads, “The attention of the Naval Headquarters has again been drawn to the unfounded, baseless and malicious publication by an online medium focussing on the Nigerian Navy as one of its recurring targets as it was in June 2023 in a similar malicious article alleging the immediate past Navy Chief did not want to hand over.
“The medium has again originated a false report saying, “Naval Chief Emmanuel Ogalla lands in trouble over multi-billion naira oil bunkering, contract-splitting fraud.”
“The allegations that the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) accepted over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud in the last 6 months are untenable, baseless and untrue.
“Firstly, 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.
“Secondly, the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts; the award of such is the sole prerogative of NNPCL.
“Thirdly, all contracts awarded by the Navy follow due process in line with the laws of the Federation.
“The Nigerian Navy (NN) and her roles is an offshoot of the constitutional provisions and duly guided by extant laws and regulations of the land.
“The policing roles of the Navy empowered her to monitor the maritime domain of the Nation.
“These among others include arrest of vessels that contravene any of the maritime laws and SPOMO Act 2019.
“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.
“Pertinently, the NN will continue to ensure legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly.
“Also, 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.
“Accordingly, members of the public are therefore enjoined to discountenance completely the malicious publication that emanated from the medium because it is totally untrue and completely baseless being a figment of the shallow imagination of the writer, his publishers, and their unpatriotic sponsors.”
The coalition argued that to curb crude oil theft and its economic toll, firm action must be taken against leaders suspected of involvement.
