Minister of State for Defence, Muhammed Bello Matawalle, says the federal government is launching investigations into “the serious corrupt allegations” against Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
The Minister, in a statement on Saturday by Henshaw Ogubike, Director Information, Press & Public Relations of Ministry of Defence, said that the investigations will be far-reaching because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has zero tolerance for corruption in Nigeria’s public service.
Matawalle therefore said this explains the imperative of a thorough and impartial investigation to ascertain the truth of these claims.
Peoples Gazette, in a report on Friday, alleged that Admiral Ogalla had accepted over $170 million in bribes over the past six months alone, accusing the Naval Chief of offering the services of the Nigerian Navy to crude oil thieves.
The newspaper alleged that on November 22, 2023, Ogalla awarded 30 contracts to a single firm at $537,672.45 each, totalling $16,130,173.5 ( or N22 billion at prevailing parallel market rates), It said that the malpractices were perpetuated in the process of procurement for special operations equipment and that the contract was split into multiple tranches to conceal its total cost and circumvent procurement regulations.
It continued further to state that Admiral Ogalla proceeded with the secret deal in violation of Section 20(2)e of the Procurement Act 2007, which forbids contract-splitting in any form and carries a minimum five-year sentence.
He was also accused of shielding some officers, bucking calls to transfer naval officers who have been found culpable of several unprofessional conducts.
But in the statement, the Ministry of Defence Spokesperson, Henshaw, said: “Though these allegations might be mischievous, the Ministry of Defence is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigerian Armed Forces. The allegations leveled against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla are serious.
“We respect the role of the media in fostering transparency and holding public figures accountable. At the same time, we urge responsible journalism that adheres to the principles of fairness, objectivity, and accuracy. Accusations of this nature can have far-reaching consequences on the reputation of individuals and institutions, and thus, it is crucial to avoid premature judgments.”
“In the light of the allegations, we assure the public that the Ministry of Defence will collaborate fully with relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. We remain committed to the principles of due process and fairness, ensuring that findings will be based on concrete evidence and legal standards.
“It is our collective responsibility to maintain the trust and confidence of the Nigerian people in the institutions that safeguard our nation’s security. We call for patience as the investigative process unfolds and trust that justice will be served in accordance with the rule of law.”