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.
Akpobolokemi, who was sacked from his post two weeks ago was arrested in Lagos, Thursday morning, and is being detained at the Lagos office of the EFCC in Ikoyi.
“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.”
EFCC operatives 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.”
An official in the prosecution unit of the EFCC in Lagos confirmed that Mr. Akpobolokemi was indeed arrested.
“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
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