Chief Of Naval Staff demands special courts for maritime crimes

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on Friday, called for the establishment of special courts dedicated to maritime crimes, as it would lead to more effective and efficient justice delivery and curb insecurity.

The naval chief made the call while delivering the third distinguished personality lecture of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The lecture, themed, ‘Role of the Nigerian Navy in Combating Maritime Crimes and Advancing Nigeria’s Blue Economy’, took place at Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, UI, Ibadan.

He vowed to eradicate oil theft completely in the country to increase the contribution of maritime to the blue economy.

Ogalla, who said oil theft had been dealt with, however stated that the Navy would leave no stone unturned to eradicate the scourge completely.

He said: “The proposed way forward to checking maritime crimes for enhanced blue economy in Nigeria should include designation of special courts for maritime crimes, advocacy for community support and socio-economic prevention strategies.”

He argued that establishing special courts dedicated to maritime crimes would lead to more effective and efficient justice delivery, ultimately resulting in better outcomes for law enforcement.

He also disclosed that there has been no piracy in Nigeria since 2023.

Present at the lecture were Prof. Olawale Albert, Dr. Adeniran Aluko, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, former Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise and others.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Navy, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who was the chairman of the occasion, but was represented by General Olumuyiwa Okunnowo, urged security agents to commit themselves to the survival of the country.

Daniel and other scholars who spoke at the lecture called for inter-agency collaboration to deal with security challenges in the country.

The Director of IPSS, Prof. Ruth Moses-Adio, said maritime security was central to the diversification agenda of the current administration.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, lauded the organisers of the programme.