Fact emerged how officials of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) diverted N101.4 million meant for the establishment of Maritime Institute, in University of Nigeria, Nsukka..
It was learnt that both NIMASA and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka reached an agreement to establish Maritime Institute at the University.
The University submitted a proposal of N599 million as take of grant, but only N240 million was released and paid Into United Bank of Africa (UBA) account of the Institution.
But. The Audit inspection revealed that at the Bursary Unit of the University of Nigeria showed that only N138 million was paid released for the institute.
The difference of N101.4 million could not be accounted for by the officials of NIMASA and the University.
Both officials of NIMASA and Management of University of Nsukka were indicted by the report of Auditor General of Federation.
The Report reads, “NIMASA and University of Nigeria, Nsukka reached an agreement to establish a Maritime Institute at the latter. To this end, the University submitted an estimate of N599,000,000.00 (Five hundred and ninety-nine million naira) as take-off grant but only the sum of N240,000,000.00 (Two hundred and forty million naira) was paid to the University vide P.V. No. UBA/EP/13/546 of 30/5/13.
“The audit inspection visit to the Maritime Institute at the University on 16th August, 2015 revealed that the Bursary unit of the University acknowledged only the sum of N138,571,921.16 (One hundred and thirty-eight million, five hundred and seventy-one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-one naira sixteen kobo) as release for the establishment of the Maritime Institute, Nsukka and not N240,000,000.00 (Two hundred and forty million naira) raised in the payment voucher. The difference of N101,428,078.84 (One hundred and one million, four hundred and twenty-eight thousand and seventy-eight naira, eighty-four kobo) could not be accounted for by either the University or the Agency.
“The Director General has been requested to:Identify the officers responsible for the diversion of the difference of N101,428,078.84 (One hundred and one million, four hundred and twenty-eight thousand and seventy-eight naira, eighty-four kobo) and take disciplinary action against them, furnishing evidence such action for verification.
“Recover and refund to treasury the aggregate sum of N101,428,078.84 (One hundred and one million, four hundred and twenty-eight thousand, seventy-eight naira, eighty-four kobo), furnishing recovery particulars for verification.”
