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.
In a statement issued on April 25, 2026, the Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunso, said the arrest followed a directive from Naval Headquarters after a complaint was received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The complaint alleged that a sum of ₦400,000 was paid to Nigerian Navy personnel to provide security for Motor Vessel CHIMBA Express, a Cameroonian-registered vessel operating within 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 onboard the vessel. The Navy’s swift and coordinated intervention led to the successful rescue of both the vessel and its crew.
Following the incident, claims surfaced suggesting that naval personnel had received payment for security services and later abandoned the vessel without refund. However, a comprehensive investigation by the Navy found no evidence to support the allegations, confirming that its personnel neither solicited nor received any payment, nor entered into any security arrangement with the vessel’s owners.
Further findings revealed that Ekpo, identified as an agent with PINAPAT Shipping Agency in Calabar, allegedly collected the ₦400,000 under false pretences, claiming the funds were meant for Navy personnel involved in the rescue operation.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, integrity, and accountability, stating that it will continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups attempting to tarnish its image or exploit its operations for personal gain.
The suspect has since been handed over to the police for further necessary action.
