The Maritime Academy is smeared by N1.05 billion fraud as money are withdrawn from the institution accounts without appropriate authority. The irregular withdrawal came to light when the office of the Auditor General of the Federation raised alarm that the of sum of N 457 million released to the Academy on 13th December 2012 was irregularly diverted to UBA account number 1006476693 and It was also observed that the sum of N608 million was irregularly withdrawn from account number 02550040000037 with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) without stating the purpose of the withdrawal.
But responding to audit query from the Senate the Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Duja Effedua told the Senate Committee on Public Account that the allegations against the Institution was grievous, but that non of the staff was ready to talk to him on what transpired regarding the audited report adding he did not take over from anybody. According to him “it is true, they won’t talk to me. They have written about 6,000 petition against me. They want me dead, they are frustrating me, I need the help of the committee to carry out the Investigation. I came to kick start something I don’t have any information about, they will frustrate every effort to get to root of the matter. I want ad-hoc Committee to be set up and get to the root of the matter,” he said.
But, the Chairman of the Committee gave the Rector of the Institution three weeks to provide the necessary documents to the Committee on the allegations raised in the Auditor’s General Report. The Rector there after told the committee that he was ready to cooporate with them in order to get to the root of the mater. The query reads in part” Audit observed that the sum of N457 million released to the Academy on 13th December 2012 was irregularly diverted to UBA account number;1006476693. All efforts made by the Audit Team to sight the bank statement, supporting documents for utilisation of the fund and other relevant details proved abortive. No response from management as at the time of this report Risk Diversion of funds is illegal and deprives the Government of resources.
“The Rector is required to recover the sum of N 457, 657,293.12 (Four hundred and fifty-seven million six hundred and fifty-seven thousand two hundred and ninety-three Naira twelve kobo) irregularly diverted into a private account and furnish recovery particulars. Sanctions within FR 3106 should apply.” The second query read “Audit observed that the sum of N 608 million was irregularly withdrawn from account number 02550040000037 with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) without stating the purpose of the withdrawal. Management’s response No response from management as at the time of this report Risk Diversion of public fund for purposes other than intended.”
