Corruption: Under Obasanjo Reached A Feverish Crescendo

Naval Chief, Adekeye’s shady deals exposed!
  • Owns £1.5m houses in UK • Worth over N2b • Owns N424m houses
in PH, Offa, Lagos • Makes N75m monthly from oil bunkering
By DICKSON OMONODE

THIS is certainly not the best of times for Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye and his Nigerian Navy as a corruption scandal is rattling the service at the moment.


At the centre of this scandal however is Adekeye whose position as the nation's Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) is seriously threatened at the moment as intelligence report has it that he may be replaced in October given the deluge of allegations being levelled against him.


Atop the avalanche of scandals is the allegation that Commanding Officers of the Nigerian Navy in the Niger Delta are his fronts in the booming illegal bunkering activities in the region, coupled with the inability of the Navy to curb the now out-of-control militant activities and influx of sophisticated weapons through the creeks by militants.


The booming illegal bunkering, activities of the militants, alleged corrupt enrichment to the tune of billions of naira, cases of missing ships, among others now cast Adekeye's Navy as an institution where anything can happen once the cash is right.

These and many more shady deals were contained in two separate petitions receiving the attention of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. And since news of this development reached the naval chief through his sources in the presidency, the CNS is fast losing sleep, and sometimes, manifests embarrassing jitters as a cloud of uncertainty now surrounds the leadership of the service.


Not too long ago, the naval authorities alleged that two Vice Admirals and eight officers, now retired, are suspected of having been involved in contraband petrol trafficking in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Adekeye had explained that the suspected illegal bunkering was on ships under naval guard and how the ex-officers allegedly dipped into the lucrative trade.


"The retired officers were actively involved in illegal bunkering from their vantage positions in naval operations, knowing full well that the proceeds from illegal bunkering is a major source of funding for the operations of militants in the Niger Delta," Adekeye said.


However, the country may soon witness a replica of the fall of former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Tafa Balogun who was not only sacked from office but was arrested and prosecuted by the dreaded Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Tafa was later released but not after he was made to return his loot.

Now, the table may soon turn against the leadership of the Navy if the detailed allegations contained in the petitions are anything to go by.


One of the petitions was written by the Niger Delta Peoples Front, a collection of youth bodies in the Niger Delta set up with the aim of promoting ethnic harmony amongst youth bodies across the region.


The group alleged that its investigations reveal that Commanding Officer of NNS Delta is a front and an active man for the CNS in the Illegal oil trade that is booming in the region.


It was gathered that the Commanding Officers in collaboration with the sacked leadership of the Joint Task Force (JTF) has turned the creeks and waterways of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states into an executive economic enclave for themselves and the Chief of Naval Staff.


Investigation by the group, which is contained in the petition, revealed that some of the vessels that operate in this illegal bunkering are owned by the CNS and some politicians in the region.


Specifically, the group alleged in the petition that the following officers are involved in the illegal oil bunkering in the region: Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, Brig Gen Illogho former JTF boss, Major Ahmed of JTF, Navy Capt. Ajibade, Commander Dogos (rtd).
Some other civilians who were named in the ring include Chief Ken Donye Alias Billionaire; Chief Solomon Yenagoa, Mr. Walter, and Itsekiri by tribe and a one-time Bank Manager of EcoBank in Warri and Mr. Oliver, an in-law to a Lebanese who is in charge of all the bulk purchase.


The illegal bunkering trade is carried out mostly on Equa, Odidi, Ogbo, Tohoh, Agoro and behind Refinery Discharge Line in Warri, Delta State.


It was further alleged that Ajibade supervised the about 15 vessels with a capacity of over 4,500 metric tons of crude, that were being used for the illegal bunkering activities. It also alleged that the stolen crude by suspected agents of the Naval chief from the creeks are usually discharged into a vessel with a capacity of over 75,000 metric tons to 150,000 metric tons owned by some Lebanese.


Recently, a vessel owned by one Chief Ken Donye was allegedly arrested by the men of JTF at Forcados Bays for their refusal to settle the 'Boys', claiming that the CNS owned the vessel. Despite directives from the Commanding Officer of NNS Delta, the arrested vessel by the JTF is still at anchorage in Forcados Waters.


The Commanding Officer of NNS Delta was also alleged to be responsible for paying all money due to the CNS into various banks in Warri for onward transfer to his master's account.


“Sir, we are hereby calling on you to use your good office to call all these officers, most especially Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, the Chief of Naval Staff to book, as he always boasts of his stupendous wealth,” the petitioners appealed.
NNS Delta is said to realize up to N75 million monthly as 'settlement' from the bunkering union and foreigners who are the moguls of the illegal oil trade.


Sources within the Navy confided in National Daily that profits have been Adekeye's main driving force since he assumed office barely two years ago. His first lines of prey are the major oil companies who regularly send royalties to him.


Those behind the illegal bunkering activities have to part with ransom to be given pass, as only those who refuse to cooperate are arrested. His style is simple. He leans on the Commanding Officers of the various Naval Bases and their Intelligence Officers to extort their victims and solicit gratifications from the oil companies in the region for the CNS. The officers in turn are compensated by being allowed to remain for as long as they continue the supply.


Sources at the Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI) disclosed that one of the reasons the activities of the militants flourished was the concentration of Adekeye in the illegal bunkering. He was reported to have openly said that militancy and hostage-taking were never the Navy's headache because his main interest is bunkering activities.


As if these were not enough, another petition by a group of aggrieved naval personnel entitled “Mr. President Must Hear This” Enough Is Enough, Direct from the Navy Diary, exposed even deeper shady deals allegedly perpetrated by the Naval chief.
According to the Navy Diary, a conglomeration of officers and men of the Nigeria Navy, recently formed to bring to the notice of Mr. President and the generality of all Nigerians recent development in the Nigeria Navy, had said, “we felt constrained to mention some issues that border on the entire Navy and its Men. Sir, in your broadcast, you made mention of fighting corruption and that-all corrupt officers will be brought to book. The entire Officers and Men of the Nigerian Navy hereby solicit for your assistance. Look deeply into the affairs of the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye”.


Atop the issues raised by the Navy Diary was that of missing ships where they accused Adekeye of playing his tricks once again. “We are confidently saying that he knows about the missing ships, he must have used those agents of his from Warri and Port-Harcourt to carry out his plans. And this is why he stopped Navy Patrol team from patrolling the creeks. And that is also why he refused to refurbish all Navy Ships and Patrol Boats,” the group said in the petition.


Specifically, they alleged that one of the recent missing vessels has connection with the US $2.27 million that was found with Navy Captain G.A. Ojedokun.


According to the allegations, the vessel loaded at Warri and was to proceed to India. Ojedokun who hails from Offa in Kwara State was the Operational Officer on Board NNS Pathfinder, who then supervised and carried out bunkering activities for the Chief of Navy Staff when he was the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command in 2003 -2005, until his present appointment as the CNS.


The fact that the vessels, which were said to be missing and were later found in Lagos, beating all Naval security network around our territorial waters without the crude they were loaded with, questions further the veracity of claims that they were missing.
Close watchers are curious on the whereabouts of the crude (products) loaded in Warri before heading to Port-Harcourt, where they were arrested.


“We are confidently saying that the CNS is fully aware of what happened, because at the time the vessels were declared missing was when they sailed out to discharge the crude (products) loaded at their receiving vessels at High Sea, which is about a day and half sailing, and is about 130NM (Nautical Miles) from Escravos Brake Water. And this crude is made to settle the money Navy Captain G. A. Ojedokun collected in India (US $2.27),” the petitioners also alleged.


As if not done, all Intelligence Officers presently serving at NNS Delta, NNS Pathfinder, FOB Igbokoda, FOB Brass, FOB Bonny allegedly supervise and monitor bunkering activities for the Naval Chief.


Adekeye, it was learnt, has been involved in these shady deals from his days as then Rear Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, FOC Eastern Naval Command at NNS Okemini now NNS Pathfinder in 2002 2003 where intelligence officers monitored and supervised bunkering activities for him before he later sent his brother, now Navy Captain G. A. Ojedokun to man.


Beaming searchlight on Adekeye's alleged business empire, which the petitioners tagged “The CNS Business Empire”, Adekeye who is the 17th CNS is accused of being “a man who has insatiable desire for wealth-moving, and who tried to aspire to the highest position in Defence, with the objective to institutionalize himself where he will have access to the control of the Defence Resources.”
The Naval Chief is said to own properties across the length and breadth of the country and beyond. Within PortHarcourt, he allegedly owns three House Boats (HB) each worth over N160 million. These HBs are said to be presently at Awoba.


He is said to own two houses in Port-Harcourt, one at Elelenwo Street in GRA and another in Agip Estate. Both Houses are worth over N314m.


He allegedly owns 10 security boats which are attached to Shell at the rate of N30,000.00 per day (per boat). Also, he reportedly owns four Hilux pick up vans attached to Agip Oil Company at the rate of N25,000.00 per vehicle and some others to Intel, a logistic company at Port Harcourt at the rate of N30,000.00 per day.


At his Offa home, Adekeye allegedly has one estate that is said to be worth over N850m. He also owns an ultra modern fish pond worth N75m. The Pond is presently being managed by Lt. Cdr. M.C. Abubakar, one of the officers who were involved in the mysterious disappearance of the crude oil from MT African Pride. The petitioners who insisted that this connection deserves to be probed, said “that is why we emphasis he should be probed over the missing ship. The officer who was jailed for his part in the African Pride saga must have a NEXUS with Adekeye to still be in relationship with him”. The Officer was allegedly paid N10m to pacify him during the investigation of the MV African Pride.


In Lagos, the Naval Chief allegedly owns a house at Okokomaiko worth over N9.2m. Also recently, his wife who is accused by the petitioners of being a pseudo Chief of Naval Logistics, since she does buying and selling in the Navy, allegedly laid a foundation stone of shopping complex at Okokomaiko in Lagos, at a time some of the ships owned by the Nigerian Navy needed a token to put them to-sail effectively.


Adekeye is said to be among the league of prominent Nigerians who own properties abroad. Specifically, he is alleged to be the proud owner of two houses in London, one in highbrow area of London worth over £1.2m and the other worth over £300,000. His son is also said to own a house too in London and lives in luxury.


Impeccable sources in the Directorate of Finance at the Naval headquarters disclosed that the funds are transferred through the Navy account at the High Commission in London in the name of purchase of ship spare parts.


He is said to have simultaneously acquired three Ocean-going tankers with the total capacity of 30,000 metric tons from Spain with the pretence of seeking medical treatment in that country with a view to making all his contacts towards the purchases of the said vessels, our sources revealed. The said vessels acquired by the CNS are now being used to siphon the country's crude oil twice weekly from Bonny and Forcados Export Bays. They also operate from Escravos spearheaded by the Intelligence Officers and Commanding Officers of the different operational bases with some 'untouchable' civilians.


He is also accused of collecting N390m monthly for the fuelling of ships and failed to utilize it properly. “As at the time of writing this report, none of the Nigerian Navy War ships can shift alone without seeking the help of a tug boat. God forbids Nigeria should go to war; our territorial water could be overrun by the enemies”, said the petition.


Another twist was given to the furore generated by the forced retirement of two Vice Admirals and eight officers on allegations of having been involved in illegal bunkering. According to the petition, those Admirals, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye is chasing are the hope of the Navy, because we the Officers and Ratings have been praying for them to head the Navy one day, because of their achievements in previous years.


To ensure they remained in retirement, which critics believe is a calculated attempt by Adekeye to prevent any of them from succeeding him, and also to pave way for his stooges to step in while he anxiously covets the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Naval Chief was accused in the petition of recently engaging in a fresh round of lobbying members of Senate ad-hoc committee and members of House of Representatives with huge sums to cover up his excesses. Close watchers of the muscle flexing game who appear to be in sympathy with the affected officers alleged that “this was exactly what happened during the last dispensation. Adekeye deliberately refused to appear before the committee constituted by the House of Representatives. There is also an unconfirmed claim that most top military officers and civilian senior officials of the Ministry of Defence have been on Adekeye's pay roll”.


The CNS is also accused of exhibiting high-handedness in stopping the pay of the officers he forcefully retired without following due process, even though the matter was still before the National Assembly.


“If the redenomination of the Naira could be suspended for failure to follow laid down procedure, the hasty retirement of the 10 officers should also be suspended so that due process is observed. And until that is done, the Navy authorities should be ordered to maintain statuesquo ante,” argued a human rights activist who did not want his name mentioned.


Besides that, “the CNS was said to have prevented two naval officers from celebrating their passing-out ceremony from War College on August 10, 2007. When other Officers where celebrating, the two Officers where at their lobby. He, Adekeye, reportedly instructed the Commandant of the War College not to allow them. In fact, it is a taboo in the Navy and the military in general”, sources who were privy to the incident lamented.


The separate petitions appealed for a presidential probe of accounts of the Navy as “you will discover that Adekeye is worse than Balogun of the Nigeria Police”. The petition, signed by A.B Ahmed, P.O. Chukwu, Commander G.S. Kaigiwa and M.W.O. Musa is said to be receiving the attention of the presidency despite efforts by a key staff there to prevent the petitions from reaching the President.


Although sources close to the EFCC and ICPC disclosed that the petitions were receiving attention, official confirmation could not be got, as a top official denied specific knowledge of the CNS being investigated by the commission. He however said that when petitions are referred to the commission, it would definitely give it attention as they have done it with a former service chief. “But I cannot confirm whether or not we are handling such matters now”, he said.


Efforts to reach the Navy for reaction to the allegations was proving abortive after several calls to the spokesperson for the Navy, until a text message was sent to Navy Capt. Henry Babalola requesting official reaction. He replied to the text stating: “Please avoid publishing rumours and half truths. Where is your evidence? Do not allow disgruntled elements to use you. They have tried this rubbish in the past. I wish you the best”.


The petition which was copied to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan; Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF); Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives Mrs Patricia Etteh; Minister of Defence Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Minister of State Defence Chief of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Navy Staff and Chief of Air Force Staff, was made available exclusively to the National Daily.

www.nationaldailyngr.com

Comment: The unprescedented corruption under Obasanjo was so monumental, it will take decades to clean the stables from the amount of uncoscionable rouges Obasanjo surrouded himself with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stories like this and others, just astounds and stupfy me. It makes you say hunnn with your jaw hanging on the ground!

Sad indeed. The more you look, the less you see.

There is no credibility to all this insinuation trying to rubbish a distinguished chief of naval staff.  I personally know this guy,and I've had discussion with him on several occasion.  he is too smart a man to commit all this fraud.  Where are the facts in this allegations beside all the ridiculous claims.

Have you not noticed that this mamajama of a man cannot write more than two lines, he claim to have gotten two degree(decree) in law and he is pursing the 3rd decree. Only him and God know where he is. To be honest i will discourage anybody that wants to send his child to any school mamajaja passed through.

please nobody shld be decieved that mamajama of a thing is operating at the highest level of aboki.
just take ur time and go through his posts and that of his partner(afam) the two things are working hand in hand.
the aboki is claiming to be in usa but i really did not see his whenh there was catherina in new orlands so where else will such thing be.
investigation is showing that his partner(afam) is operating a big farm rice in abakiliki side so we have a reason to bear with his level of thinking and he so much apprecaite the fact that he is in the same business(farming) with obj.
those two things know all the personalities in nigeria and they are both related to all leaders, wow! before mamajama comes online he must talk with yar adua and sometimes obj will call him on phone while he is online. those two things can lie

afam,
i know ur problems. since u have been limited to the boundaries of nigeria, it is possible u don"t believe that countries exist without steady black out, potholes on the high ways, rule of law, election by the masses.
in all brother i can feel you but u can help yourself, visit cotonou and pass sometime there if possible a night and you will begin to appreciate the realistic nature of what we preach here.
if countries like cotonou, senegal, ghana, togo and cameron to mention but a few will exist without blackouts, then we have a valueable arguement to tell u that nobody is fighting corruption in nigeria least of all obj.
how many of his contracts have been revoked by yar adua on the basis of illegality?
the latest is the revoke of the salling of government houses to his aids illegally and be informed that those houses were used as compensation so what could be more corrupt than eight aids getting a house each in an administration so how many will be left for yar adua and his own aid maybe they will revert to selling human beings if there is no more property left for them to sale.
ribadu can be a gentleman if he would resign now that the ovation is still high otherwise with the kind of Godly wing that is blowing now, we will all soon see that the revend fathers wear trousers to church.
obj did the most devilish things in his sharing of gov property in the name of selling them otherwise how could yar adua through section of our constitution revoke all these sales even our reffineries.
had it been he succeeded in his third term agenda, aso rock would have been sold by now.
look at her etteh the speaker, she has choosen for herself a panel of inquiries and from how things are going, i am forseeing a situation this panel will come back to tell nigerians that the money the criminal woman is asking is less than what is required to put the house in order again from the vandalisation the house suffered in the hands of the past sepakers who were not as corrupt as kalu according to efcc.
are we not mad if a set of people are not corrupt and the hosue they just packed out of is calling for n628 million for renovation.
afam, i sincerely recomend that u do ur best to visit somewhere else and believe that suffering is not mearnt to be our life partners because from the way u sound, man am afraid u are used to suffering. u need a change

Afam see the points he is making and comment on it. Stop attacking somebody from left right and center. It will benefit you, me and every other nigerian if we can see the truth and say it. Our country is lagging behind.
For once just ansa one of the questions raised by chidichris, let us see how your ansa will be justified.
To Afam
1) Who is responsible for all our federal roads that is in the state of disrepair.
2) Who is responsible for the generation of electricity in nigeria and why are we having blackout day in day out.
3) Why on earth do we need 260million or so for house renovation.
4) Why was the last election marred with fraud and how many people have been arrasted for that owing the OBJ and MUSA has confessed to the fraud.
My brother the list is endless but try and ansa just this four above the we will know who is doing what in the fight against corruption.

afam, please we are waiting for answer so that we will be in a better position to judge who is introducing corruption in nigeria and who is fighting it.
we want to know the rationale behind third term, the selling of refinaries, government houses and the illegal contracts of which most of them have been revoked.
we want to know how obj will not be a witness in the petition over april polls.  we want to know how andy uba's money laundary case in america was tagged civil case while alams was a pure case of money laundary.
we want to know why in a country of 36 states just less than 5 are on trial so far? what timetable does efcc have? how long more are we waiting for the rest of the govs? is nigeria surposed to be controlled by a single man or the constitution?
are we in democracy of emergency rule? how do u compare the idea of charging any arrested individual within 48 hours of arrest and that of keeping them till infinity like ur efcc and the obj factor?
we are waiting for a yar adua who has confessed to coming to power by fraud but working to put the wrong things right. if yar adua accepts the accusation of malpractise in elections, then who is behind these mal-practises and what punishments have been giving to them?
how are we calling kalu as if he is a factor in the country.
in his business life, he is not that succeessful compared to dangote and adenuga so why is he always the case. is his progress a treat? in politics has just been a gov and nothing more.
we have a nigerian that is 47 years and we want to accuse an orji uzo who is just a boy for the failures of nigeria at this age. if one will be ready to answer, how old is kalu and how old is corruption in nigeria.
if there is issues to talk about, let us look at the federal levels and see why our opec revenues are not enough for us to have electricity and good roads, security and other good things of life.
yar adua shld learn to put projects on ground and work towards finishing them at the expiration of his legal terms instead of everyday party politics only to end up on constitutional amendments that will make him a life president.
finally, afam, you have insulted in many ways but u praising me twice have changed my feelings for u so i remind u that the praises are: when you said upon my level of education and the latest been u saying that i may be a rich man.
i am here to claim them, i am educated and am rich in Jesus name-Amen but do me the greatest favour of answering pending questions.

Wahala full for this country

Another moron on rampage. Suit yourself. Are you an idiot or what?

afam,
i have told u before, Jim nwobodo and alex ekwueme in their fight for supremecy, ojukwu and zik/ono, chris uba and ngige, we have mbadinuju, all from the former anambra state. an extention of supremecy came when evan enwerem was made the senate president, the most educated man of our time convienced nigerians on the state of incapabilities on the side of enwerem hence the peaceful removal of Enwerem giving chance to the man with much capacity. his emergence brought light to senate, pdp and nigeria as a whole but what happened?
the man with too much vocabulary was humiliated out of office and ,  so always watch your back and learn from your fathers.
in you i have seen a jack of trades and master of non. u know english and politics even mathematics yet u can't link me to any of your arguements where you have outlined points one after the other.