The Senate, through its Committee on Public Accounts, has commenced investigation into alleged diversion and irregular withdrawal of N1.05 billion from United Bank of Africa by the Maritime Academy.
This is even as the Rector of the Academy, Mr Duja Effedua, urged the committee to intensify action on the probe, saying none of the staffers who allegedly knew about the diversion and withdrawal was ready to volunteer any information.
Investigation into the diversion and irregular withdrawal by management of the institution was hinged on queries issued to that effect by the Office of Auditor General of the Federation in the 2018 Audit report forwarded to the committee.
As stated in the report, the sum of N457 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diverted to UBA account number ; 1006476693 and It was also observed that the sum of N608 million was irregularly withdrawn from account number 02550040000037 with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) without stating the purpose of the withdrawal.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 the Rector, Mr Effedua, while appearing before the committee Friday last week, said the allegation against the Institution was grievous, and that none of the staffers was ready to talk to him on how the diversion and withdrawals were made.
He told the Senator Mathew Urhoghide-led committee that the alleged diversion and withdrawals were made before he assumed office.
“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 root of the matter. I want an Ad-hoc Committee to be set up and get to the root of the matter,” he said.
But the committee chairman, Senator Urhoghide gave the rector three weeks to provide necessary documents on the allegations raised in the Auditor General’s Report.
The rector thereafter told the committee that he was ready to cooperate with them in order to get to the root of the mater.
The query
In the query, the “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 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.
“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. Was management as at the time of this report Risk Diversion of public fund for purposes other than intended?”
