The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested a suspected fraudulent shipping agent, Mr Nsikak Sunday Ekpo, and handed him over to the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department in Calabar for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Navy said the arrest followed a directive from Naval Headquarters after a complaint from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning alleged illegal payments linked to a vessel rescue operation.
The allegation involved claims 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 Navy explained that the incident dated back to 22 December 2025, when personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY, NNS OSE and Forward Operating Base IBAKA responded to a fire outbreak onboard the vessel.
It said, “the swift and coordinated response of the Nigerian Navy led to the successful rescue of the vessel and its crew,” stressing that no security contract was entered into with the ship owners.
According to the statement, “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.”
The Navy alleged that Mr Ekpo, acting as an agent with PINAPAT Shipping Agency in Calabar, “fraudulently collected the sum under false pretence,” claiming it was meant for naval personnel involved in the rescue.
It added that “claims emerged suggesting that naval personnel received payment for security services and abandoned the vessel without refund,” but these were found to be false after investigation.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, saying it will continue to take action against anyone attempting to damage its reputation or exploit its operations for personal gain.
