The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA], Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, two weeks after he was fired from his post.

A source in NIMASA told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. 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.”

Our source said while at NIMASA headquarters, 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,” our source said.

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

The spokesperson for the EFCC could not be reached for comments. He did not answer multiple calls as well as a text message to his telephone.

But 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.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 16 sacked Mr. Akpobolokemi and directed him to immediately hand over all government property in his possession and vacate office.

There have been several allegations of financial impropriety against NIMASA during Mr. Akpobolokemi’s tenure, including those which suggested the agency funded the lavish lifestyles of some Niger Delta militants and bankrolled most of the hate campaigns against Mr. Buhari in the run-up to the 2015 elections.
In 2012, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, accused the maritime agency of failing to render its audited accounts from 2007 to 2011.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/187509-exclusive-efcc-arrests-sacked-nimasa-boss-over-alleged-multibillion-naira-fraud.html

The fear of buhari is the beginning of ...

I told you guys that buhari will change this country for good


Some peeps now a direct flight out of this country might be more important than any other thing.

My sai buhari is doing it

www.

Aha. It's actually coming

EFCC is on rampage but am tired of all these questioning as if those criminals wont come up with first grade answers

how i wish Jonathan also probe people during his tenor, by now the numbers of the criminals could have been reduced

EFCC

phemmyutd:
how i wish Jonathan also probe people during his tenor, by now the numbers of the criminals could have been reduced

Jona probe who?

Does he even care to know the meaning of probe ?

Nah only Southerners EFCC dey arrest sef?

True story. ..I know the bloke's family. ..tension everywhere

doublewisdom:
Nah only Southerners EFCC dey arrest sef?

What about Nyako, Lamido and Saraki? are they also South?

Masu gudu su gudu...those who wants to run should run... PMB is at the corner...stealing is now corruption our president is not clueless...

Sule Lamido and Murtala Nyako were arrested and granted bail. Case still in Court.

doublewisdom:
Nah only Southerners EFCC dey arrest sef?

Na dis kind news I dey like.

TheSonOfMark:

All we keep reiterating is that he shouldn't shield his political allies. Tinubu, Amaechi and Fayemi shouldn't be shielded from the 'probe-beam'.

bross 2019 no far, you are eligible to contest for the position of the president.

doublewisdom:
Nah only Southerners EFCC dey arrest sef?

What is your problem?

Isn't this man a Nigerian before anything else. Your tribal bigotry has made you so blind to see that this 'southerner' stole 13 billion Naira.

Grow up, the EFCC are targeting all they suspect are corrupt.

There have been several allegations of financial impropriety against NIMASA during Mr. Akpobolokemi’s tenure, including those which suggested the agency funded the lavish lifestyles of some Niger Delta militants and bankrolled most of the hate campaigns against Mr. Buhari in the run-up to the 2015 elections.
In 2012, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, accused the maritime agency of failing to render its audited accounts from 2007 to 2011.

Why? Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi but why?

phemmyutd:
how i wish Jonathan also probe people during his tenor, by now the numbers of the criminals could have been reduced

That would be his waterloo!!!

Great

Nice one the precedent is now once you are fired by the govt u are immediately arrested......




atta boy

phemmyutd:
how i wish Jonathan also probe people during his tenor, by now the numbers of the criminals could have been reduced

I agree with you. If this trend continues like this into the next 2 successive regimes, it might be Uhuru for Nigeria.