The Naval Headquarters has strongly refuted recent claims made by Peoples Gazette, known for its history of character assassination and libel, against Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla. The publication alleges involvement in multi-billion naira oil bunkering and contract-splitting fraud.
The Nigerian Navy dismisses these allegations as baseless and unfounded. It clarifies that procedural requirements in the arrest, detention, and release of vessels involved in illegal activities are strictly followed. Contrary to the report, no vessels implicated in crude oil theft have been released prematurely.
Additionally, the CNS does not have the authority to award or oversee oil bunkering contracts, as this falls under the purview of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). The Navy asserts that all contracts awarded adhere to due process in line with national laws.
The Navy attributes these accusations to a coordinated effort by disgruntled elements seeking to undermine its recent successes in combating crude oil theft and illegal activities in the maritime domain. Operation Delta Sanity, launched by the Nigerian Navy, has intensified efforts to address these issues and has evidently disrupted criminal operations, leading to desperate attempts at tarnishing the Navy’s reputation.
Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan, the Director of Information, emphasizes the Navy’s commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of legitimate businesses in the maritime sector. Despite attempts at distraction, the Navy remains resolute in its mission to confront criminal activities that hinder Nigeria’s economic progress.
The public is urged to disregard the malicious publication from Peoples Gazette, deemed as a fabrication fueled by shallow imagination and unpatriotic motives. Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan requests widespread dissemination of this clarification to counter the false narrative presented in the sponsored article.