By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy has arrested a suspected fraudulent shipping agent, Mr Nsikak Sunday Ekpo, and handed him over to the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Calabar for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the arrest followed a directive from Naval Headquarters after a complaint received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleging that a sum of four hundred thousand naira was paid to Nigerian Navy personnel to provide security for Motor Vessel CHIMBA Express, a Cameroonian-registered vessel operating within the Calabar Channel.
The statement explained that the allegation was linked to an incident on 22 December 2025, when personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship NNS VICTORY, NNS OSE, and Forward Operating Base FOB IBAKA responded to a distress call involving a fire outbreak onboard the vessel. The Navy’s swift and coordinated response led to the successful rescue of the vessel and its crew.
It noted that claims later emerged suggesting that naval personnel received payment for security services and subsequently abandoned the vessel without refund. However, a comprehensive investigation by the Nigerian Navy established that its personnel neither solicited nor received any payment, nor entered into any form of security arrangement with the vessel’s owners.
Further findings revealed that Mr Ekpo, identified as an agent with PINAPAT Shipping Agency in Calabar, allegedly collected the sum under false pretence, claiming it was meant for Nigerian Navy personnel involved in the rescue operation.
The Nigerian Navy reiterated its commitment to professionalism, integrity, and accountability, stressing that it would continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups seeking to tarnish its image or exploit its operations for personal gain.
The suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further necessary action.
