Multi-Billion Naira Fraud: EFCC Arrests Sacked NIMASA Boss, Akpobolokemi

 

Two weeks after he was sacked from his post by President Muhammady Buhari, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has been reportedly arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

An insider disclosed that Mr. Akpobolokemi was arrested in Lagos on Thursday morning and was detained at the Lagos office of the EFCC in Ikoyi.
 

“He was taken in this morning around 10 a.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.

The EFCC operatives reportedly asked questions about some curious multibillion naira transactions approved by Mr. 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. They also asked about other transactions they believed were fraudulent, including transfers of millions of dollars from NIMASA accounts to other accounts.” the source said.

An official in the prosecution unit of the EFCC in Lagos, confirmed that Mr. 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.

 

Source: Premium Times