The Nigerian Navy has arrested a suspected fraudulent shipping agent, Mr. Nsikak Sunday Ekpo, over allegations of impersonation and financial misconduct linked to a maritime rescue operation in Calabar.
In a statement issued on April 25, 2026, the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, said the suspect has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Calabar for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Folorunsho explained that 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.
He noted that the allegation was traced to 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 response, he said, led to the successful rescue of the vessel and its crew.
However, subsequent claims suggested that naval personnel collected payment for security services and abandoned the vessel without refund. Folorunsho stated that a comprehensive internal investigation found no evidence to support the allegation, confirming that its personnel neither solicited nor received any payment, nor entered into any security arrangement with the vessel’s owners.
Further findings, according to him, revealed that Ekpo, an agent with PINAPAT Shipping Agency in Calabar, allegedly collected the money under false pretence, claiming it was meant for Navy personnel involved in the rescue mission.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, integrity, and accountability, Folorunsho said the Nigerian Navy would continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups seeking to exploit its operations or tarnish its image.
The suspect remained in police custody as investigations continue.
