The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has opened up on a whistle-blower’s claim, saying it has no link with an account with hidden &1 billion.
The said whistle-blower, John Okpurhe, had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) had refused to grant him his reward for exposing a Unity Bank account with over $1 billion allegedly operated by the NPA.
In a statement by the General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications, Jatto Adams, the NPA said: “Okpurhe, claiming to be a whistleblower cited an account number: 001368044 allegedly being operated by NPA but, this account does not exist as evidenced by the letter from Unity Bank Plc.
“The NPA operates an account with Unity Bank Plc with number 0013670344 with a total sum of $1,057,772.03(One million, fifty –seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two dollars, three cents) as of December 4, 2019 and not $1,034,515,000.00(One billion, thirty-four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand united States dollars) as alleged by the petitioner.
“However, the NPA account has not been in operation since August 27, 2010 due to a Suit No: FHC/L/CS/582/2010 Garnishee order Nisi in Aminu Ibrahim &Co &Anor VS. Nigerian Ports Authority where a garnishee order was placed on it , following a case, which went from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court over a period of eight years.”
The NPA said that as the case was determined at the Supreme Court, the judgement creditors continued with the Garnishee process, which resulted in the credit of the $1,057,772.03 in favour of Suit No: FHC/L/CS/582/2010 Garnishee Order Nisi-Aminu Ibrahim &Co & Anor VS. Nigerian Ports Authority on December 4th, 2019 in line with the order.
“It is, therefore, obvious that there is no cloned account as speculated in the alleged whistle blowing effort of Okpurhe.
“The account under discussion was frozen on the strength of the case, the money was consequently transferred to the judgement creditors on December 4, 2019 in line with the Garnishee Order Absolute,” the NPA said.
