Rector of Maritime Academy dies of heart attack a week after Ameachi ordered probe over disbursement of N18bn

          
Yesterday, Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Joshua Okpo, slipped into coma after being hit by a sudden cardiac-arrest at his Abuja residence and he
later died.


Last week, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, ordered a probe into the financial activities of the MAN and the remission of N18bn by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to the institution within the last 5 years.

Amaechi’s demand for a full audit of the institution’s finances is predicated on allegations of financial recklessness and large-scale corruption leveled against Okpo. This was after Okpo had repeatedly accused NIMASA of starving MAN of funds through NIMASA’s refusal to release the statutory 5% subvention funds to MAN.

Amaechi had summoned the management of NIMASA to his office and asked why it was sitting on the subvention of the institution. This led the acting DG of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to inform him that the agency has remitted over N18bn to MAN since 2009 It was at this point that Okpo, who also attended the meeting, confirmed to Amaechi that MAN had actually received up to N13bn since 2011 when he assumed duties as the Rector of the institution.

Amaechi, who was reportedly alarmed by the sum involved became angry with Okpo whom he accused of feeding him with lies about the true situation of the disbursements. He asked what the huge funds were used for against the backdrop of lack of physical infrastructural development of the institution. To this, Okpo was said to have given inconsistent and incoherent answer. Amaechi consequently ordered an immediate audit of all the amounts said to have been remitted to MAN since 2009.