EFCC Arrests Past NIMASA Boss 2 Weeks After Buhari Fired Him

The immediate past director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His arrest comes two weeks after he was fired from his post.

A source in NIMASA informed Premium Times that Akpobolokemi was arrested in Lagos on Thursday morning and was detained at the Lagos office of the EFCC in the Ikoyi area of the city.

NIMASA boss Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi arrested by EFCC

According to the source, the DG was taken in at about 10 a.m. and a discreet investigation was being conducted by EFCC operatives.

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“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

“For instance, they wanted to know how a whopping 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 NIMASA source said.

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Confirming the DG’s arrest, an official in the prosecution unit of the EFCC in Lagos who pleaded anonymity said: “I’m aware he is with us but I don’t have details about the case against him or what investigators are asking him.”

Akpobolokemi had been fired on July 16, by President Muhammadu Buhari and directed to hand over all government property in his possession and vacate office.

During Akpobolokemi’s tenure as DG, there were several allegations of financial impropriety against NIMASA. It was alleged that the agency funded the lavish lifestyles of some Niger Delta militants and also bankrolled most of the hate campaigns against Buhari in the run-up to the 2015 elections.

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