The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has refuted allegations that it operates a secret account containing over $1 billion with Unity Bank Plc.
A man identified as John Okpurhe had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of refusing to reward him over the supposed revelation.
In a statement on Monday by NPA spokesman, Jatto Adams, the authority said the account number 0013680344 which Mr Okpurhe alleged the NPA operated with Unity Bank did not exist as evidenced by a letter from the bank.
“The NPA operates an account with Unity Bank Plc with account 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 State Dollars) as alleged by the petitioner,” the statement read.
“The authority hereby states that allegation that it operates such an account is untrue.
“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.
“Upon the determination of the case at the Supreme Court, the judgment creditors continued with the Garnishee process which resulted in the credit of the amount $1,057,772.03 (One Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Two Dollars, Three Cents) 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 Garnishee Order absolute.
“It is therefore obvious that there is no cloned account as speculated in the alleged whistle blowing effort of Mr. Okpurhe.
“The account under discussion was frozen on the strength of a court order in August 2010, following the completion of the case; the money was consequently transferred to the judgment creditor on December 4, 2019 in line with the Garnishee Order Absolute.”
