Corruption Allegations Against Naval Chief Deemed Baseless

The Convener of Civil Society for Peace, Security, and Development (CSPSD), Obadiah Ovye, has strongly rejected corruption allegations against Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, labelling them baseless and orchestrated to besmirch his reputation.

In a “World Press Conference” held in Abuja on Friday, the society rallied in support of Mr Ogalla and denounced what they termed as a smear campaign aimed at undermining his efforts in curbing oil theft and criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Ovye dismissed allegations of a $170 million fraud against Ogalla as unfounded, attributing them to disgruntled elements seeking to protect their illegal interests disrupted by the Navy’s crackdown on oil thieves.

“It’s an honour to have you join us today as we gather to expose the hypocrisy and baselessness of the unfounded allegations being peddled against the impeccable personality of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla by those he has put out of business as he tightens the noose on oil thieves and other unwholesome activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Their crass attacks are, to say the least, repugnant and smack of a poorly orchestrated hatchet job.”

“Credible intelligence at our disposal has it that a cartel of notorious crude oil thieves whose illicit business has been grounded by the tight security and tactical effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy in the onslaught against oil bunkering in the Niger Delta has enlisted the services of some unpatriotic elements to launch a smear campaign against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. The game plan involves sponsoring vicious media attacks against the Chief of Naval Staff with the hope of pressuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack him as he has been known to be a courageous and dedicated anti-corruption icon. The sheer callouses of this scheme is appalling but their bag of lies has burst open and Nigerians have already known it is just a matter of corruption fighting back,” he said. 

Nigeria loses billions of dollars from crude oil theft

Before Mr Ogalla’s tenure, Nigeria suffered significant losses from oil theft, a situation his supporters credit him with addressing through initiatives like Operation Delta Sanity.

Mr Ovye contended that Mr Ogalla’s commitment to ending illicit oil activities has incurred the wrath of vested interests, prompting retaliatory efforts to tarnish his image.

He asserted that Ogalla’s leadership has been marked by professionalism and integrity, as evidenced by the Navy’s proactive measures and collaborative efforts with local communities to combat criminal elements.

“The launch of Operation Delta Sanity by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla upon assumption of duty to cleanse the mess in the Niger Delta region has been hailed as the most proactive, professional and dynamic military operation in the Niger Delta region. The dedication, discipline and patriotism of officers and men of the Nigerian Navy in all Command centres in the region have been outstanding and fruitful. The strategy to partner with host communities to foster intelligence gathering and sharing has played a key role in sabotaging the efforts of oil thieves who previously used host communities as hideouts for their nefarious activities. Realising that the chances are up, these miscreants have teamed up to discredit and blackmail Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. It is impossible that evil will triumph against good. Mr President cannot afford to lose a good man simply because he has done his job very well by trashing out criminal elements,” he explained. 

Allegations against the Navy Chief

Meanwhile, a coalition named “Concerned Nigerians” petitions President Bola Tinubu to investigate Mr Ogalla for alleged corruption, including crude oil theft and contract splitting.

The coalition accuses Ogalla of colluding with oil thieves and engaging in procurement fraud, citing incidents involving impounded vessels and unauthorized oil activities allegedly overlooked by the Navy.

The allegations drew the attention of the Ministry of Defence to state the government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, promising a thorough inquiry into the allegations against Ogalla.

Responding to the accusations, the Nigerian Navy vehemently denied the claims against Mr Ogalla, labelling them as unsubstantiated.

The Navy refuted allegations of vessel releases and procurement irregularities, asserting adherence to due process and lawful procedures in its operations.

According to the Director of Information for the Nigerian Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the allegations are orchestrated by disgruntled elements seeking to undermine the Navy’s efforts to combat oil theft.

Mr Ayo-Vaughan reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to upholding maritime security and vowed not to be deterred by attempts to malign its reputation.

He emphasized that the Navy’s operations are guided by constitutional provisions and laws, dismissing accusations of impropriety as unfounded.

Mr  Ayo-Vaughan urged the public to disregard the allegations, assuring continued vigilance in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests.

“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.”

“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, ” the statement added.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the debate surrounding Ogalla’s integrity underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s defence institutions.

The unfolding events highlighted the challenges faced by security agencies in combatting corruption and criminality, underscoring the need for robust oversight and accountability mechanisms.

As investigations proceed, stakeholders await the outcome with keen interest, mindful of the implications for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and national security.

The controversy serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in combating corruption and underscores the importance of upholding integrity and accountability at all levels of governance.