Nigerian Navy Boss Ogalla in the Eye of the Storm
The Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla has come under scrutiny, which has forced the navy to deny allegations against him.
An online media platform (not Online Parrot News) has alleged that the naval chief was involved in oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. The platform also said that the boss engaged in fraud to the tune of millions of naira.
Apart from that, the Chief of Naval Staff was said to have released the impounded tankers and vessels to receive kickbacks from the owners who also take part in bunkering of oil.
The Nigerian government has struggled to stop illegal activities in the oil field. Both local and expatriates steal Nigerian oil and the military has once been accused of aiding and abetting the criminal activities.
Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence has said that the allegation against the naval boss, Ogalla, would be thoroughly investigated.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to exonerate the boss, the navy has released a statement to deny the allegation against the Chief. Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the director of information of navy signed the statement.
The release says, “The allegations that the Chief of the Naval Staff accepted over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud in the last six 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 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. ”
“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 are 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,” he said.
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