Alleged fraud: EFCC arrests sacked NIMASA boss

*Be fair to all in your anti-corruption war, NLC cautions agency

EZUGWU OBINNA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, two weeks after he was fired from his post.

A source in NIMASA disclosed that Akpobolokemi was arrested in Lagos yesterday morning and was detained at the Lagos office of the EFCC in the Ikoyi area of the city.

“He was taken in this morning around 10a.m. Some of our other officials have also been summoned while EFCC operatives have been conducting discreet investigation here. There is tension everywhere.

“One of our people just returned from EFCC and he told me the former DG is still there, sweating profusely as he was being questioned by investigators,” the NIMASA insider said.

He also said that while at NIMASA headquarters, EFCC operatives asked questions about some curious multibillion naira transactions approved by Akpobolokemi, especially during the dying days of the last administration.

“For instance, they wanted to know how a whooping N13 billion was spent on the acquisition of land for the permanent site of the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta,” our source said.

“They also asked about other transactions they believed were fraudulent, including transfers of millions of dollars from NIMASA accounts to other accounts.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC could not be reached for comments. He did not answer multiple calls as well as a text message to his telephone.

But an official in the prosecution unit of the EFCC in Lagos confirmed that Akpobolokemi was brought into the complex on Thursday morning.

“I’m aware he is with us but I don’t have details about the case against him or what investigators are asking him,” said the official, who cannot be named because he has no permission to speak to journalists on the matter.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 16 sacked Akpobolokemi and directed him to immediately hand over all government property in his possession and vacate office.

There have been several allegations of financial impropriety against NIMASA during Akpobolokemi’s tenure, including those which suggested the agency funded the lavish lifestyles of some Niger Delta militants and bankrolled most of the hate campaigns against Buhari in the run-up to the 2015 elections.

In 2012, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) accused the maritime agency of failing to render its audited accounts from 2007 to 2011.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned the EFCC to be just in its on-going anti-corruption war as a way of winning the trust of Nigerians.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary General of Textile and Garment Workers Union and one of the Deputy Presidents of the Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, which was made available to Hallmark yesterday.

The congress called on the anti-graft agency to avoid pitfalls that would give its current drive to bring corrupt individuals to book the colouration of bias, while commending the body for upping its anti-corruption war in recent weeks.

“Nigerians acknowledge the renewed effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the chairmanship of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde in investigating and prosecuting proven cases of corruption. There certainly cannot be development with pervasive corruption.

“However, labour urges EFCC to be fair and just in its dealings with suspects and avoid the pitfall of avoidable perception of bias. EFCC’s investigating and prosecution processes must be transparent and fair,” the statement reads.

The NLC also commended both chambers of the National Assembly over the recent resolution of their crisis which had hampered legislative proceedings for over two months now, and charged the lawmakers to get down to business in the interest of Nigerians.

“We commend both the Senate and House of Representatives for the new spirit of reconciliation which led to their successful resumption of legislative business on Tuesday July 28th, 2015.

“The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, closed the chapter of acrimony with his commendable apology to Nigerians for the un-parliamentary conduct of the House in recent times.”

Labour is encouraged also with the remark of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, that “’leadership is secondary. Primary responsibility is good governance.’ This renewed sense of compromise by legislators should be reflected in their work ahead,” the congress said.

“The renewed reconciliation must now pave the way for real legislative business which the Senate under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki has commendably started with the reading and screening of the names of service chiefs as submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

It further charged the lawmakers to work towards ending what it called the unacceptable level of poverty in the country and urged them to bring an end to mass unemployment.

“More than ever before, the 8th National Assembly has enormous tasks ahead given the unacceptable level of poverty in the land, factory closures, and mass unemployment.”

“Nigerians, therefore, look forward to progressive legislations for national development, wealth generation, enhanced productivity, protection of domestic industry, ensuring dignity of labour, creation of jobs and decent wage among others. Real reconciliation among legislators must start with good laws for good governance.”