Lawyer and human rights advocate, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged mismanagement of funds by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) related to the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Delta State.
In a detailed petition, Adeyanju accused NIMASA and its former Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, of allegedly misappropriating funds earmarked for the construction of the Senate building at the university. According to the activist, despite the disbursement of funds to an unnamed contractor, the project remains uncompleted.
“We write as concerned Nigerians to petition Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the (former) Director General of NIMASA, as well as an unknown contractor regarding the mismanagement of the Senate building project at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.
“Despite receiving the necessary funds and resources, the contractor failed to execute the project, leading to the non-completion of the construction. The failure of the contractor, without appropriate sanctions from Dr. Bashir Jamoh, raises serious concerns about the administration of public funds and execution of government projects under his leadership.”
Adeyanju urged the anti-corruption agency to thoroughly probe the allegations and hold those responsible accountable, citing the need for proper stewardship of public resources.
This is not the first time NIMASA has been embroiled in allegations of financial impropriety. In 2021, the agency faced scrutiny over N87 billion in allegedly fraudulent contracts, including funds paid for uncompleted projects at the NMU.
The Auditor-General of the Federation had flagged these irregularities, prompting the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to recommend a comprehensive investigation. The committee highlighted concerns from a 2015 report, which noted that several projects—ranging from administrative blocks to maritime structures—were either abandoned or unexecuted despite full or partial payment.
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