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Following the ongoing probe of officials and activities in government agencies under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday quizzed a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, for some alleged “irregularities” in the agency’s operations under his watch.
Akpobolokemi was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 16, 2015. No reason was given for his sack.
He had honoured an invitation by EFCC on Thursday, arriving at the commission’s Lagos office in Ikoyi at about 10am.
Sources at the EFCC said that as soon as the former DG arrived, he was taken in for questioning by a team of investigators.
Akpobolokemi was not allowed a breathing space until about 7pm when he was granted bail on self-recognition and ordered to report back to the EFCC office on Friday.
A source said, “We were waiting for him, and as soon as he arrived at 10am that we told him to come, our officers started questioning him.
“He was not allowed any breathing space until around 7pm when we granted him bail. It was decided that he should be granted bail because he came at the time he was invited without any fuss and submitted himself for questioning.
“He was also asked to come back on Friday because we have not finished with him. Before he was invited, we made our own discreet investigation and we discovered some irregularities in NIMASA’s operations when he was the DG. Our dossier on him is complete.”
According to information, the commission believed that Akpobolokemi had questions to answer abut some “questionable transactions” running into billions of naira which were approved by the former DG.
“There were many cases of fraudulent transactions, transfers and acquisitions that we believe that the DG must explain. They are many; details will be made available in due course”, a source revealed.
Attempt to speak with Mr Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman for the EFCC, was futile, as his phones were switched off.
By Patrick Aigbokhan
