EFCC arrests Akpobolokemi over alleged multibillion-naira fraud

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

SHIPS & PORTS ONLINE reported yesterday that EFCC operatives had stormed the Procurement Department of NIMASA collecting relevant documents while the former Director General had been invited to the office of the anti-graft agency.

An online medium later reported that Akpobolokemi was arrested in Lagos Thursday 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 10 a.m.,” the NIMASA insider said. “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.”

While at NIMASA headquarters, EFCC operatives reportedly 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 whopping N13billion was spent on the acquisition of land for the permanent site of the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta.

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

EFCC spokesman could not be reached for comments. He also did not respond to enquiries sent to his mobile phones by the correspondent of SHIPS & PORTS DAILY.

There have been several allegations of financial impropriety against the former NIMASA strongman who was booted out of office on July 16 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akpobolokemi’s predecessor, Temisan Omatseye, who was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan on 24th December 2015 is also currently being prosecuted by EFCC at a Federal High Court in Lagos.



Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.