Navy Arrests Alleged Fraudster, Clears Personnel of Extortion Claims
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Navy has arrested a suspected fraudulent shipping agent and cleared its personnel of any wrongdoing following allegations of misconduct linked to operations in the Calabar Channel.
The suspect, Mr. Nsikak Sunday Ekpo, was apprehended and subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Calabar for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to a statement from Naval Headquarters, the development followed a petition routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alleging that ₦400,000 was paid to naval personnel to provide security for Motor Vessel CHIMBA Express, a Cameroonian-registered vessel operating in the Calabar Channel.
The allegation stemmed from an incident on December 22, 2025, when personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY, NNS OSE, and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA responded to a distress call involving a fire outbreak aboard the vessel. Naval operatives successfully contained the situation and rescued both the vessel and its crew.
However, subsequent claims suggested that Navy personnel had received payment for security services and later abandoned the vessel without refund. A thorough internal investigation by the Navy found no evidence to support these allegations, confirming that no personnel solicited or received payment, nor entered into any form of contractual security arrangement with the vessel’s operators.
Further findings identified Mr. Ekpo, an agent with PINAPAT Shipping Agency in Calabar, as the individual who allegedly collected the ₦400,000 under false pretence, claiming the funds were meant for Navy personnel involved in the rescue mission.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and accountability, stressing that it will not tolerate attempts by individuals or groups to exploit its operations or damage its reputation.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
