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Missing
ship: Presidency warns police, Navy over buck passing
By Oguwike Nwachuku
Group News Editor
and Chris Agbambu
Deputy Bureau ChiefAbuja
Aso Rock is fed up with the way the police and the Navy have been
trading blames over the missing oil ship, �African Pride�, and has told them to
shut up and get on with their task of providing national security.
The thinking in the Villa, according to sources, is that the two
agencies should have collaborated to locate the vessel rather than pass the
buck.
The matter is already being probed by the House of Representatives,
where both the head of the police and that of the Navy have presented their
cases to the investigating committee.
President Olusegun Obasanjo�s warning at the weekend coincided with
reports that the courtmartial being constituted to try three rear admirals and
other senior Naval officers over the missing ship will convene this week.
Military sources disclosed in Abuja that members of the court have been
notified of its constitution. It is to be headed by Chief of Defence
Intelligence Rear Admiral Joseph Ajayi.
The Naval authorities were, as of Sunday, still undecided whether the
court will sit in Lagos or Abuja.
One of the charges being levelled against those to be charged is
negligence, which led to the disappearance of the illegal bunkering ship.
A source disclosed that the Naval director of legal services and the
provost marshall were busy throughout the weekend trying to sort out the
necessary paper work.
The court martial is likely to work within a time frame to quickly
dispose of the case.
Daily Independent reported
last Thursday that three rear admirals have been transferred to the Naval
Training Command (NAVTRAC) Lagos preparatory to facing a court martial over the
incident. A Naval source had said that the signal authorising the transfer was
released last Wednesday in Abuja, which directed the officers to report to
their new postings not later than today, and to hand over to their next in
command.
Those said to have been transferred are Rear Admiral Francis Agbili,
hitherto Naval Chief of Training and operation (CTOP), Rear Admiral Anthonio Bob
Manuel, former FlagOfficer commanding (FOC) Naval Command, who was deployed to
the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji as Deputy Commandant
barely six weeks ago.
Also affected by the order from Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Samuel
Afolayan is the FlagOfficer Comanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral
S.B. Kolawole.
Successors to the admirals could be announced this week. Also, there are
indications that heads may roll in the Navy at the end of the court martial.
A Presidency source told this newspaper at the weekend that Inspector
General of Police (IG) TafaBalogun and Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral
Afolayan have been directed byObasanjo to take more seriously the issue of the
missing vessel by working together to locate her whereabouts instead of trading
accusations.
According to the source, the President met with the two officials and
challenged them on the security of the nation as it affects their individual
organisations.
While appearing before the House Committee investigating the matter,
Afolayan and asked the members to ask Balaogun to explain the where about of
the ship.
The following day,Balogun pointed accusing fingers at the Navy,
insisting that it should be questioned on the missing ship.
The face-off between the two security chiefs led to the issuance of
letters from their stables accusing each other of engaging in unbecoming
activities,a development which may have embarrassed the Presidency.
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