“Account Frozen by Court Order in 2010”-NPA

Following allegations of the existence of a cloned NPA account by a whistle blower, The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA has refuted such claims describing it as the result of either failed memory or the hallucination of a troubled fellow.

In an official statement signed by NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications   Engr. Jatto Adams, NPA said the petition by Mr. John Okpurhe to President Muhammadu Buhari the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) allegedly refused to reward him after exposing over a $1bn supposedly hidden in an account with Unity Bank Plc and allegedly operated by the Nigerian Ports Authority, lacks merit.

In the petition, Mr. Okpurhe, claiming to be a whistleblower cited an account number: 0013680344 allegedly being operated by NPA.

NPA insists that this account does not exist as evidenced by a letter from the bank.

While admitting that 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.

NPA clarify that the 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.

Based on the foregoing, NPA states that there is no cloned account as speculated in the alleged whistle blowing effort of Mr. Okpurhe.

Conclusively, the Nigeria Ports Authority notes that 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.