Alleged abuse of office: NACAT asks EFCC, ICPC, CDS to probe naval officer, Commodore Aligwe

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff to investigate Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe, the Executive Director, Operations, Navy Holdings Ltd. for alleged violation of public rules and abuse of office.

In a statement signed by NACAT’s Director of Investigation, Oghenedoro Tega in Abuja on Friday the group accused Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe, the Executive Director, Operations, of the Navy Holdings Limited for alleged violation of public rules and abuse of office.

NACAT accused Commodore Aligwe of owning/running private companies while in service against extant rules.

The group also drew the attention of the general public to widespread suggestions that the Naval Officer allegedly frustrates contractors and accept kickbacks for his personal gain.

“NACAT’s investigation revealed that Commodore Gabriel Sunday Martins Aligwe, the Executive Director, Operations, of the Navy Holdings Limited and his immediate family members have interest as Directors in the companies, “Max-Magins 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), in compliance with the law.”

Aside from the above-mentioned private companies, NACAT hinted that Aligwe has real estate companies.

NACAT also alleged that Aligwe

is using his office to award contracts to himself through these private companies that he incorporated solely as a medium of perpetrating fraud and abuse of office.

In addition, the group noted that 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.

“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” NACAT’s Director of Investigation stated.

As an NGO with a mandate to fight corruption and various anti-corruption war to our credit, NACAT expressed concer 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 posited.