By SWAI Investigation
Generally when people are appointed into leadership positions globally, they either get knocks or accolades as they continue to steer the ship of leadership in their new assignments.
In Nigeria, especially, when such leaders are appointed into positions of authority, there are many people around them who start plotting for their downfall from day one just to achieve the pull down syndrome.
As the leaders continue to weather the storms in their new assignments, the enemies within and without start to come up with a lot of distractions just to make the leaders lose focus and fail.
In their evil plots, the enemies will come up with series of lies just to tarnish the image of the leaders.
Recently, social media publications came up against the Nigerian Navy’s current Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
To get to the root of the issue, Security Watch Africa (SWA) embarked on independent investigations to know the true situation.
Among the allegations recently leveled against him included the claim that he was involved in a multibillion-naira oil bunkering and contract-splitting fraud.
He was said to have received over $170 million in bribes over the past six months alone.
On Contract-splitting, the allegations claimed that on November 22, 2023, Mr 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),
According to the allegations, the procurement for special operations equipment was split into multiple tranches to conceal its total cost and circumvent procurement regulations.
The report said Mr 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.
Mr Ogalla was also alleged to have freed several oil tankers busted for transporting stolen crude off Nigerian shores after receiving kickbacks in millions of American dollars.
He was also alleged to have rebuffed internal calls for him to remove his ‘cronies’ in the Navy working for him as his foot soldiers in the fraud.
The CNS was said to have been involved in several cases between September 2023 and January 2024 where the Nigerian Navy dispatched gunboats of personnel to supervise the loading of stolen crude on at least four vessels.
Vessels bearing ill-gotten hydrocarbons that were interdicted during routine patrols or based on intelligence tip-offs, often via private security firms, were also alleged to have been freed on Mr Ogalla’s orders in exchange for millions of dollars.
Specifically, the allegations claimed that personnel of the Nigerian Navy had obstructed a lawful search of the oil tanker MT Vinnalaris, among others, which had been trailed from where it was suspected to have loaded stolen crude off Ondo waters.
While the vessel was intercepted by private security patrolling the waterways, the allegations claimed that the Navy personnel aboard it prevented an inspection on strict orders from the top leadership.
The allegations also noted that in August 2023, barely two months after Mr Ogalla’s appointment, the Nigerian Navy suppressed a private security contractor’s findings pointing out that tanker MT Praisel had loaded stolen crude and should be investigated.
It was alleged that Mr Ogalla ordered officials to clear the vessel, claiming it was duly approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to load 1,114,721 litres of high-pour fuel oil (HPFO) from Greenmac Energy Storage-Tarus Jetty Koko from July 26 to August 8, 2023.
The findings of SWA Investigations revealed that those behind the baseless, malicious publication against the office and person of the Chief of Naval Staff had other ulterior motives.
The SWA independent findings showed that “The allegations are unfounded, baseless and malicious orchestrated by organized criminal syndicates online publisher reputed for unwholesome practices, character assassination and libel.
“For example, the Peoples Gazette, amongst others. Hence the facts about the baseless allegations are as follows: It is worthy of note that since assumption of command in June 2023, under the CNS, the Nigerian Navy has arrested over 15 vessels at various locations engaged in various maritime crimes.
“Those vessels are currently under investigation by various prosecuting agencies.
“The Nigerian Navy has also identified and destroyed several illegal refinery sites, dug out pits and storage tanks in the maritime environment containing over 156,000,000 million litres of illegally stolen crude within the last 6 months.
“On the alleged claim that the CNS freed several Tankers arrested for transporting stolen crude oil, the CNS cannot free any arrested vessel without a valid court order or outside the provisions of the Harmonised Standing Operating Procedure for Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels and Persons (HSOP-ADP 2016).
“There are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention and release of any ship, persons or entities found culpable in the Nigerian Maritime environment.
“It is until these Standard Operating Procedures are duly concluded that such vessels or entities are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies such as the EFCC, NSCDC and the Nigerian Police for prosecution or release as the case maybe.
“On the issue of MT PRAISEL, the vessel was commissioned to lift High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty, Koko, to offshore Lagos. They had all the necessary authorization including the Bill of Lading, Cargo Manifest, Certificate of Quantity, Certificate of Origin and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) permit to load 1.1 million liters of HPFO.
“The permit was valid for the period of July 26 to August 8, 2023. In line with SOP, they were monitored and escorted by personnel of the NN to ensure compliance with NMDPRA permit.”
From the SWA Investigations, it was discovered that the vessel was however boarded and searched by a Private Surveillance Company.
The findings added “The cargo onboard was in dispute as such, the NMDPRA was invited to take sample of the product in the full glare of other stakeholders for laboratory analysis.
“After the analysis by the recognized government agency NMDPRA, it was confirmed that the product was HPFO and not crude as falsely claimed. Accordingly, the vessel was allowed to continue on its voyage.”
SWAI sighted a letter responding on the issue from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) dated 15th February, 2024 replying to the Request For Sample Taking and Analysis. It was issued by Engr. OGIONWO, E. MNSE”
It said “We refer to your letter dated 12 February, 2024 on the above subject.
“Kindly be informed that the results obtained from the laboratory analysis conducted an samples collected from the vessel MT Saisnil I on the 14th February 2024 are as follows:
“The Sample Density (0.9240g/ml) and API (21.5) was found to be within range for Heavy crude oil type (typical of EBOK crude oil, but this classification is not limited to the mentioned)
“The Flashpoint indicates the sample is a flammable petroleum product and contains volatile light ends synonymous with crude oil. iii. The sample has a low Flashpoint but contains a high volume of free water.
“iv. The sample was found to have a high Pour Point, which is likely as a result of the high-water content detected.
“iv. With respect to the analysis carried out, the sample is a fiammable petroleum product suspected to be Crude Oil.
“3 In order to categorically state if the product is Crude Oil, a crude oil Assay on fresh samples of the product to isolate various petroleum fractions in respective proportions may be required.
“Please be guided accordingly and accept the assurance of the Authority Chiet Executive’s (ACE) highest esteem.” he stated.
On the claim that MT KALI was spotted on 11 Jan 24 under naval escort, the SWA findings said “This is also false as no naval ship was found in the vicinity of Pennigton on the day of arrest. In reality, the vessel was handed over to the NN 2 days later on 13 Jan 24. The NN conducted preliminary investigation and is still in possession of the vessel.
“MT TURA II was also arrested and sank for crude oil theft while MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS was arrested by the NN at about 2300 hrs on Wednesday 6 December 2023 with stolen crude oil and detained in situ with armed naval guards.”
SWA discovered that adequate press briefing was conducted by the NN on the arrest and reported to higher authorities.
“All arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in illegal oil bunkering are in the NN custody being investigated.” SWA findings stated.
It also said that its investigations showed that the Office of the CNS, NHQ, DHQ and the Ministry of Defence do not award or oversee any oil bunkering contract, trades, sales nor export of crude, but the role is constitutionally “the sole prerogative of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited.
“Therefore the role of the Navy or any sister Services in the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the fight against crude oil theft is that of support to civil authority.
“Notably, all contracts awarded by the Navy are done with due process in accordance with the Public Procurement Act as well as other extant laws of the Federation. Pertinently, at no point did the NN award contract contrary to extant laws.”
On the allegation that the CNS collected bribe of USD 170 Million from bunkerers, the SWA findings said “it is pertinent to note that the story is a figment of their imagination and totally false. It is a cheap means to blackmail the NN and the person of the CNS.
“In fact, the CNS has maintained a hard posture with the bunkerers and the NN is poised to provide adequate maritime security to curb crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in order to ensure increased in daily oil production for national economy prosperity and development.”
Just this February 2024, the Nigerian Navy arrested Motor Tanker SAISNIL II with about 720,000 Liters of Crude Oil Sludge allegedly stolen from an oil facility in the Niger Delta region.
The St. Vincent & Grenadines flag vessel was arrested along with it’s 11 crew men onboard.
On the claim that those behind the publication contacted the CNS for comments on the allegation, SWA discovered that it was not true as the CNS was out of the country at the time on a working visit to Spain and didn’t receive the call.
Giving the NN a clean bill, the SWA findings stated “The aforementioned falsehoods point to a well-orchestrated campaign of calumny being heinously executed by powerful organized criminal syndicates in cahoots with their lackies and proxies in dubious media and civil society outfits.
“These unpatriotic economic saboteurs, in their quest to maintain their unwholesome grip on ill gotten wealth, have been frustrated by the gains made by the NN in the defunct Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO, which was rejigged into Operation DELTA SANITY.
“To further confirm the efficiency of NN operations, as at 23 January, 2024, the Trans Niger Pipeline recorded 100% flow factor, while the Trans Forcados Pipeline recorded 99%.
“The NN is totally committed to the eradication of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, as well as other maritime crimes. This is done in compliance with HSOP-ADP.
“Accordingly, the Navy should not be deterred by baseless, malicious and fallacious falsehoods propagated by oil thieves and other criminals.
“Rather, the NN should be motivated and allowed to intensify anti-oil theft operations in support of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the SWA findings said.
With the good works going on under the leadership of CNS Ogalla, it is hoped that all hands will be on deck to support him.
If not for anything else, every true lovers of Nigeria, should back him up to end the huge illegal bunkering and oil theft going on in the South South in order to boost Nigeria’s oil production output.
Without any concrete proof of fraudulent practice against the Nigerian Navy leadership, those behind these publications should be more patriotic and stop every form of distraction henceforth.
