The group alleged that the ship was initially intercepted by a private security firm contracted to monitor pipeline vandalism and oil theft in Nigeria.
The Niger Delta Renaissance Network has accused the Nigerian Navy of releasing a vessel apprehended by private security for stealing crude oil in the region.
The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Comrade Gabriel Aniete, said the group uncovered a concerning incident involving the arrest and subsequent release of a ship carrying stolen crude oil.
The group alleged that the ship was initially intercepted by a private security firm contracted to monitor pipeline vandalism and oil theft in Nigeria.
However, it is alleged that the Nigerian Navy, acting on orders from above, intervened and granted the release of the arrested ship.
The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the unpatriotic action by the Nigerian Navy in releasing a vessel containing stolen crude, which was apprehended by the effort of a private security firm.”
According to reliable sources, following pressure from various stakeholders, the President reportedly ordered the re-arrest of the vessel and a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The navy, in an unexpected turn of events, allowed another tanker vessel to either remove the confiscated evidence or dilute it under the pretext of collecting samples for laboratory testing.
In contrast to standard practice, where small samples are taken for analysis, photographs obtained clearly show an entire vessel being used to evacuate the evidence.
“Upon hearing what transpired, we put a call across to a personnel of the private security company involved in the ship’s interception, and he confirmed to us that the Nigerian Navy is bent on undermining President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in combating oil theft.”
It is worth noting that a coalition known as Concerned Nigerians had in the past filed a petition urging President Tinubu to initiate an investigation into the alleged involvement of Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, in extensive corrupt practices.
The petition, signed by prominent members including Pelumi Olajengbesi, Mohammed Suleiman, Aisha Waliki, Deji Adeyanju, and Ogunwoye Samson, accuses Ogalla of engaging in crude oil theft, contract splitting, procurement fraud, and corruption.
The group, comprising lawyers, human rights activists, and anti-corruption crusaders, expressed their concerns regarding the allegations against the Naval Chief in a petition submitted to the President’s Office through the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
In response to these allegations, the Nigerian Navy, through its spokesperson, had issued a statement denying the accusations levelled against Ogalla.
The statement clarified that the vessels mentioned in the report had indeed been involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, emphasising that they had not been released as claimed.