The Naval headquarters has asked the general to disregard the malicious, unfounded and baseless reports been bandied by an online media, ‘the Peoples Gazette’ known for fake reportage.
A statement signed by Rear Admiral Ayo Vanughan , the administrative officer at the Naval headquarters said the online medium was known for blackmail, character assassination, and libel as the Nigeria Navy had been a target of recurring fake news as it was in June, 2023, when it came up with a similar allegations that the former Naval Chief has refused to hand over and vacate office.
The current allegations against the Chief of Naval staff, Emmanuel Ogalla tagged “Emmanuel Ogalla lands in trouble over multi billion naira oil bunkering contract, splitting fraud” as figment of imagination and farther from the truth as reported by the Peoples Gazette’.
According to Rear Admiral Vaughan, there is a clear official procedure for arrest, detention and release of any vessel or persons found in the maritime environment, stating that the allegations of $170M bribes and contract splitting fraud are untenable, baseless and untrue.
The three point release further said the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts, as the NNPCL is the sole operator of such transactions.
The Nigeria Navy followed the procurement procedures and award of contracts as well as follow due process , extant laws and constitutional provisions and regulations of the land.
The Navy will not be daunted by the sponsored publications by oil bunkerers and illegal operators on the maritime environment and their collaborators.
Therefore, the Navy had advanced and launched a special operations known as “OPERATION DELTA SANITY” to further check mate the rank and file of oil thieves , thefts that had given the perpetrators sleepless nights.
The release further stated..
SPONSORED MALICIOUS PUBLICATION AGAINST THE OFFICE AND
PERSON OF THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF.
“The attention of the Naval Headquarters has again been drawn to the unfounded,
baseless and malicious publication by Peoples Gazette, an online publisher reputed for blackmail, character assassination and libel, and with the Nigerian Navy as one of its recurring targets as it was in June 2023 in a similar malicious article alleging
the immediate past Navy Chief did not want to hand over. ”
“The People Gazette has again originated a false report saying, “Naval Chief Emmanuel Ogalla lands in trouble over multibillion naira oil bunkering, contract-splitting fraud.”
“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. ”
“Secondly, the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts; 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.
“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.”