ABUJA/Nigeria: The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has called upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff, to initiate a comprehensive investigation into alleged misconduct by Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe, the Executive Director of Operations at Navy Holdings Ltd.
NACAT, an organization dedicated to combating corruption, accused Commodore Aligwe of multiple offenses, including “violation of public rules and abuse of office.” The group contends that Aligwe maintained ownership and involvement in private companies while in military service, in apparent contravention of established regulations.
Moreover, NACAT raised concerns that Commodore Aligwe allegedly leveraged his official position to award contracts to these private companies, potentially for personal gain. The organization stated, “Aligwe has continuously flouted and breached some provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act Guidelines on Assets Declaration.”
NACAT’s Director of Investigation, Oghenedoro Tega, disclosed that their probe uncovered ties between Commodore Aligwe and several companies, notably “Max-Magins Nigeria Limited – RC 912887 and Martgab Nigeria Enterprises Limited – Rc 866375,” which he had not declared in his Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, as required by law.
The organization further alleged that Aligwe possessed real estate interests and questioned his conduct as a naval officer. “It is, therefore, our firm position that it is necessary and expedient to revisit and conclude the pending case against Commodore Aligwe,” NACAT emphasized.
Highlighting past investigations, NACAT noted, “Our investigations revealed that as a result of the numerous complaints while he was in office as Managing Director, the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff constituted an investigative panel that found Commodore Aligwe culpable and, as a result of the findings, he was recommended for Court Martial and was to refund huge sums of money that were unaccounted for.”
The organization expressed deep concern about the apparent lack of accountability and urged that appropriate actions be taken. “It is, therefore, our firm position that it is necessary and expedient to revisit and conclude the pending case against Commodore Aligwe.”
In conclusion, NACAT called for a reconsideration of Commodore Aligwe’s posting to Navy Holdings Limited and warned, “Otherwise, the Nigerian Navy should prepare for a barrage of lawsuits.”
