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Murky Waters
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Nigerian Navy chief denies media reports he refused to hand over to successor until he pays contractors billions of Naira owed
The outgoing Chief of Nigerian Navy Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo has denied he refused to handover to the incoming CNS, Rear Admiral EI Ogalla.
Gambo, 57, said he would leave office on Friday after he was fired by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
He gave the reason for delay in handing over because he had to pay contractors and naval officers from an outstanding budget allocation to the tune of billions of Naira before leaving office, according to media reports on Wednesday that cited multiple sources at the Nigerian Navy headquarters in Abuja.
According to sources the money to be paid was to Turkish contractors working on the 41 year old frigate NNS Aradu.
“The outgoing CNS also mentioned that he was finalising payment for the repair of NNS Aradu, despite our conclusion that the ship should be decommissioned and sent to the naval museum,” a source said.
The navy under Vice Admiral Gambo had reportedly budgeted $200 million for the repairs, even though he was advised to take the ship, first commissioned in 1982, out of service.
In a press statement hurriedly released late Wednesday, by its Director of Information, Commodore AO Ayo-Vaughan, said handing and taking over in the Navy is procedural according to the tradition of the Navy.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious publication by some online media such as Peoples Gazette, opr.news, hallmarknews and others alleging the refusal of the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral AZ Gambo CFR to hand over to the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral EI Ogalla.
“The media reports are totally lies, misleading and capable of spreading falsehood to unsuspecting members of the public. It is therefore necessary to put the record straight.
“Suffice to state that handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural. Upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign.
“Accordingly, the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off to culminate at a public ceremony on Friday 23 June 2023 in line with age-long naval tradition.
“Instructively, it is pertinent to mention that sister Services are also due to hand over as they have set aside specific dates for their handing and taking over ceremonies.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to discountenance the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of the reporter’s imagination.”
Akowe with reports from Lagos
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