…SAYS “CNS DOESN’T AWARD OR OVERSEE OIL BUNKERING CONTRACTS”
The Nigerian Navy High Command has disparaged Peoples Gazette’s publication against the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla as an “unfounded, baseless and malicious publication” designed to bring to disrepute the good work of the CNS.
The People Gazette, in the said publication, reported that the “Naval Chief Emmanuel Ogalla lands in trouble over multi-billion-naira oil bunkering, contract-splitting fraud.”
Adding 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 six months to which the force says it’s “untenable, baseless, and untrue”.
In a statement on Saturday in Abuja by the Director of Information (DINFO), Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan noted that the attention of the Naval Headquarters was drawn to the unfounded, baseless and malicious publication by Peoples Gazette.
It said that the online media platform is reputed “for blackmail, character assassination, and libel, targeted against the Nigerian Navy as one of its recurring targets was in June 2023 when in a similar malicious article alleged that the immediate past Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Awuul Gambo, did not want to hand over.
However, our Correspondent gathered in the said publication authored by Ayoola Babalola, dated 27th January 2024, alleged in the reports that “Admiral Ogalla is facing allegations of impropriety on many fronts since his clandestine dealings came to light, details of which had reached top levels of the chain of command and on the verge of being brought to the notice of President Bola Tinubu. Mr. Ogalla was exposed to have repeatedly offered the protection of the Nigerian Navy to oil thieves since he took office.”
While countering the claim in its publication, Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan explained that, “first, there are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention and release of any vessel or persons found culpable in the maritime environment. It is not until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further action.
“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 Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (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 the 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 or the order shortchanged the Navy before now.
Vice Admiral Ayo-Vaughan reiterated that the continuous rejuvenated operations towards curbing oil theft have 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.
He added that 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 image maker, Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, noted that despite the baseless publication to smear the image of the CNS, the force would continue to ensure that legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly.
Adding that the distractions will not stop 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.
Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan used the opportunity to call on members of the public to discountenance completely the malicious publication that emanated from Peoples Gazette because “it is totally untrue and completely baseless being a figment of the shallow imagination of the writer, his publishers, and their unpatriotic sponsors.”
