Malami Debunks Whistle-blower’s Claim On Nigerian Ports Authority

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, has debunked the claims of a whistleblower, Mr. Okpurhe John, relating to a suspected disclosure of fraudulent activities at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The OAGF stressed that due inquiry showed that John was not a whistleblower as he claimed.

The OAGF disclosed that it received a letter in June 11, 2018, from Okpurhe, alleging “that the Nigerian Ports Authority operates an account containing looted funds amounting to the sum of USD
$1,034,515,000.000 (one billion, thirty four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand United States Dollars).

His letter, according to the OAGF was captioned “NOTICE OF ALLEDGE (SIC) FRAUD OF 1,034,515,000 USD IN ACCOUNT NUMBER (0013670344) WITH UNITY BANK PLC”.

But in a statement issued by Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, (SA Media and Public Relations,
Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) on
Tuesday, the OAGF said that the WhistleBlower’s claims were not consistent, and that the following findings were established:

” The Account number 0013670344 does not belong to the Nigeria Ports Authority. However, the agency has an account 0013680344 with the bank.

“There is a pending litigation involving Nigerian Ports Authority (being the defendant/Judgment debtor/applicant), Aminu Ibrahim and Company & Gboye Ayoade and Company (being the plaintifs/Judgment creditors/respondents) and Unity Bank as well as 9 (nine) other banks (being garnishees) in suit No. FHC/L/CS/882/10.

“The claim by Mr. Okpurhe that the account has $1,034,515 (one billion, thirty-four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand dollars only) was not found in the account.

“The Most similar balance to the reported amount was $1,034,515 (One million, thirty four thousand, five hundred and fifteen dollars and nine cents only) which was closing balance on the account as at 31st October, 2017. This is almost a year before the whistleblower’s
letter). And the highest balance in the account was never up to five million dollars as at December 10th 2007.

“The sum of $939,019.79 (Nine hundred and thirty nine thousand, nineteen dollars and seventy nine cents) was the initial amount in the account as at 27th August, 2010 when the account was put to garnishee order, while the difference represents accrued interest over the period between 27th August, 2010 and 4th December, 2019 when the transfer was effected to the judgment creditors.

“The account has been on Post No Debit (PND) since 2nd November, 2015.

“Bank Statement revealed that on 4th December, 2019 that the sum of $1,057,772.03 (One Million, Fifty-seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Dollars, Three Cents was debited in favour of suit no.
FHC/L/CS/582/2010 GARNISHEE ORDER NISI- AMINU IBRAHIM & CO & ANOR. VS NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY SUIT.”

OAGF maintained that John did not qualify as a whistleblower because the NPA already had a court case.

OAGF also claimed that Okpurhe had been substituting lawyers to get at what he wanted.

But John had written to the OAGF claiming that his efforts were that of whistleblowing.

“I have since not received my reward as there have been series of deceits from the department even after the money has been recovered, hence this petition for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice’s necessary action,” he wrote to the OAGF.

But OAGF maintained that John was mixing things up and that no money was paid to the government, but that the NPA were ordered by the court to pay the plaintiffs.

The statement read in part:

“The account was put on PND and the amount
was transferred to the plaintiffs following garnishee order.

” By Writ of Summons dated the 6th day of October, 2006 the plaintiffs commenced a suit against the Nigerian Port Authority claiming Orders of the Court directing the authority to pay the sum of USD $9,186,701 (nine million, one hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and one United States Dollars) and N144,303, 981.00 (One hundred and forty-four million, three hundred and three thousand, nine hundred and eighty one naira) to the plaintiffs, being the alleged agreed fee for consultancy services rendered by the Plaintiffs and interest on the said sums at the rate the of 10%, from 27th April 2004 until the final liquidation of the debt.

” From the forgoing, the man was not in any way connected with the whistle-blowing over the account. The transfer of the money was not due to his letters of alleged “whistle-blowing”. The monies were not transferred to the designated assets recovery account at the Central Bank of Nigeria. He cannot in any way claim any fee for the work that he was never responsible.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice remains resolute to the fight against corruption, enforcement of whistle-blowing policy and ensure that no whistle blower is short-changed having done what is legally acceptable in the interest of the public good.

“No amount of desperation or campaign of calumny will deter us or make the Office of the HAGF alter the laid down procedure of doing things in accordance with the extant laws and regulations.”