Navy debunks $170m bribery allegations against CNS Ogalla

The Nigerian Navy has debunked the allegations of bribery against its Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, describing it as untenable, baseless and untrue.

An online publication, the People’s Gazzete in a report had accused the Naval Chief of accepting over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud.

However, the Navy in statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Information, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo- Vaughan, refuted the accusations against Ogalla.

Ayo- Vaughan explained that all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are being investigated, nothing that none of such vessels has been released as alleged.

“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,”he said.

Ayo Vaughan further explained that the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts; noting that 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.” he said.

He said the accusations were sponsored by disgruntled elements feeling the heat of the Nigerian Navy’s renewed vigour to fight crude oil theft and illegalities in the maritime domain.

“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 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, ” the statement concluded.