The Nigerian Navy has refuted allegations that Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, received bribes exceeding $170 million and participated in a multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud over the past six months.
In a statement released on Saturday, Naval spokesman Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan dismissed the reports as groundless, baseless, and false.
The statement argued that the publications were sponsored by individuals involved in oil theft and discontented elements. It acknowledged the coordinated efforts to tarnish the reputation of the CNS by certain disgruntled individuals feeling the pressure of the Navy’s intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal activities in the maritime domain.
The Navy emphasized its awareness of the activities of those who had previously exploited the Navy and noted that the ongoing operations to curb oil theft have disturbed the activities of oil thieves, prompting them to resort to malicious publications.
“The Nigerian Navy (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,” the statement explained.
The statement affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to ensuring the seamless operation of legitimate businesses in the maritime domain, asserting that distractions will not deter its determination to confront criminals and bring them to justice for the sake of Nigeria’s economic recovery.
“The security and economy of the Nation are greater than any group of persons that think they must continue to drain the country,” the statement concluded.