Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has called on various government agencies for an investigation into Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe, Executive Director of Operations at Navy Holdings Limited.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement signed by NACAT’s Director of Investigation, Oghenedoro Tega, the group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), accusing Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe of violation of public rules and abuse of office.
NACAT accuses Commodore Aligwe of owning and running private companies while in service, which is against existing rules. The organisation also claims that the Naval Officer allegedly frustrates contractors and accepts kickbacks for personal gain.
According to NACAT’s investigation, Commodore Aligwe and his immediate family members have interests as Directors in two companies, “MaxMagins Nigeria Limited -RC 912887” and “Martgab Nigeria Enterprises Limited – Rc 866375” and he did not declare them in his Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
NACAT further alleges that Aligwe has real estate companies and is also using his office to award contracts to himself through these private companies, which he incorporated solely for fraudulent purposes and abuse of office.
The organization claims that despite numerous complaints and findings against Commodore Aligwe while he served as Managing Director, he has not been tried for his alleged offenses.
NACAT is calling for a revisitation and conclusion of the pending case against Aligwe and suggests that his posting to Navy Holdings Limited should be reconsidered by the Chief of the Naval Staff.
NACAT warns that if appropriate actions are not taken, the Nigerian Navy could face a barrage of lawsuits.
The statement partly reads:
“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 was unaccounted for.
“To date, Commodore Aligwe has not been tried.
“It is therefore unfortunate that despite the alleged and perceived atrocities and abuse of office Commodore Aligwe perpetrated at the Naval Building and Construction Company Limited while in office as Managing Director, he is yet to be tried”
“As an NGO with a mandate to fight corruption and various anti-corruption war to our credit, NACAT expressed concern that such a naval officer would be allowed to continue in the Service with the alleged destructive tendencies
without appropriate investigative action and/or punitive actions taken against him.
“It is, therefore, our firm position that it is necessary and expedient to revisit and conclude the pending case against Commodore Aligwe.
“His posting to the Navy Holdings Limited, which is a business entity operated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (not by obey the last order), should be reconsidered by the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“Otherwise, the Nigerian Navy should prepare for a barrage of lawsuits” NACAT’s Director of Investigation stated.
