CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF REFUSES TO HAND OVER; INSISTS ON PAYING BILLIONS TO CONTRACTORS

Naval chief Awwal Zubairu Gambo has remained in office and rejected pleas to hand over power to his successor Ikechukwu Ogalla, two days after President Bola Tinubu approved changes at the top brass of the nation’s military.

Peoples Gazette today reported that Gambo said he would leave office on Friday because he had to pay contractors and naval officers from an outstanding capital vote to the tune of billions of naira before leaving office, according to multiple sources at the Nigerian Navy headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Gambo, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, was fired on Monday by President Tinubu.

President Tinubu had directed that Gambo and his counterparts in the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force should immediately vacate office, with new chiefs named to take over.

While other service chiefs have since departed following the June 19 presidential directive, Mr Gambo has lingered in office, saying he has some unfinished business to wind up, according to sources familiar with the development.

According to the report by People’s gazette, he said he was responsible for the release of the funds to the Nigerian Navy and will not be leaving office until entitled contractors and naval officers had been paid, insisting that the payment to contractors may be delayed by his successor.

Neither Chief Gambo nor the Newly appointed Ikechukwu Ogalla has made any comment on this development as at press time