Bribery Allegations: FG to investigate Naval chief

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has said that the allegations against the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, will be investigated.

Matawalle said that President Bola Tinubu has zero tolerance for corruption in the public service.

He was responding to an online newspaper report alleging the Naval Chief’s involvement in facilitating an unorganized bunkering of Nigerian crude and a multimillion-naira contract-splitting fraud.

Ogalla, in the report, was also accused of releasing several oil tankers impounded for transporting stolen crude oil off Nigerian shores after receiving kickbacks in millions of dollars.

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It added that preliminary investigations estimated that Ogalla, who was appointed by the President on June 19, 2023, had accepted over $170 million in bribes in the past six months.

The online media platform noted that the log records and videos it reviewed showed several instances between September 2023 and January 2024 when the Nigerian Navy dispatched gunboats of personnel to supervise the loading of stolen crude on at least four vessels.

However, in a statement on Friday night by the Director of Press and Information for the Ministry of Defence, Matawelle said there was a need for a comprehensive and unbiased investigation to verify the validity of those allegations.

The statement read, “The attention of the Ministry of Defence has been drawn to the recent article published by People’s Gazette which raises serious allegations against Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

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“Responding to the allegation, Matawalle said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has zero tolerance for corruption in the public service.

“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 levelled against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla are serious. Matawalle harped on thorough investigation saying that it was imperative to emphasize the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to ascertain the truth of these claims.”

He also said accusations of this nature could have a consequence on the reputation of individuals and institutions, urging the citizens to avoid “premature judgments” on the matter.

“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.

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“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,“ the statement added.