The Nigerian Navy has says that former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.) will hand over to his successor, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla at a public ceremony on Friday, June 23.
The spokesperson for the service, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, disclosed this following report that Gambo had refused to hands over and vacate office.
Earlier, President Tinubu announced the immediate retirement and replacement of Service Chiefs on Monday.
Ayo-Vaughan describing the reports as false said handing over and taking over in the Navy has a procedure that must be duly followed.
“Suffice to state that handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural. Upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign.
“Accordingly, the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off to culminate at a public ceremony on Friday 23 June 2023 in line with age-long naval tradition,” said Naval Director of Information, AO Ayo-Vaughan in a statement.
He advised members of the public to discountenance “the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of the reporter’s imagination.”
“Instructively, it is pertinent to mention that sister Services are also due to hand over as they have set aside specific dates for their handing and taking over ceremonies. Members of the public are therefore advised to discountenance the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of imagination,” Ayo-Vaughan stated.
