BREAKING: Maritime Academy of Nigeria Under Investigation by Senate over ‘Irregular Withdrawal’ of Over 1 Billion Naira.

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron in Akwa Ibom State faced investigation by the Senate Committee on Public Account over alleged illegal diversion and irregular withdrawal of 1.05 Billion Naira in a commercial bank.

Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South, PDP), who is the chairman of Senate Committee on Public Account hinged the investigation on the query by the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which exposed the alleged financial misconduct in its 2018 Audited Reports.

The report shows that a sum of 457 million naira released to the Academy on December 13, 2012 was diverted to the United Bank of Africa, UBA, through account number 1006476693, adding that the sum of 608 million naira was also irregularly withdrawn from account number 0255004000037 with the same bank without stating the purpose of the withdrawal.

Duja Effedua, the Rector of the Academy, responded to the panel by saying: “It is true, they won’t talk to me. They have written about 6,000 petitions 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 the root of the matter. I want an ad-hoc committee to be set up and get to the root of the matter.”

But the chairman of the committee gave the Rector three weeks to provide the necessary documents on the allegations raised in the Auditor General’s report.

The Rector thereafter told the committee that he is ready to cooperate with them in order to get to the root of the mater .

The first query reads: “Audit observed that the sum of N457million 
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 utilization
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 N457, 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.”

Also, in the second query, “Audit
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. No response from

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management as at the time of this report. Risk diversion of public fund
for purposes other than intended.”