In a shocking exposé by investigative journalist Jackson Ude, a web of corruption has emerged surrounding the appointment of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), implicating high-ranking officials in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Allegations have surfaced that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, accepted a staggering $1 million bribe from Victor Ochei, a former Executive Director at NIMASA, who sought the top position within the agency.

Additional reports indicate that other candidates for the role also paid between $2 million and $3 million in bribes, raising serious questions about the integrity of the selection process.

Oni-Okpaku, a former Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability in Edo State, has claimed involvement in facilitating connections between Ochei and Gbajabiamila, allegedly receiving N40 million for her lobbying efforts.

Despite her claims of innocence regarding any financial transactions, she has faced scrutiny from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which detained her for weeks.

Ochei, who ultimately did not secure the DG position, has since filed a petition against Oni-Okpaku, alleging that she was complicit in bribery.

Adding to the scandal, a staggering $180 million has reportedly vanished from the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) under the leadership of newly appointed DG Dayo Mobereola.

Insiders alleged that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Accountant General, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, orchestrated the unauthorized transfer of these funds, purportedly to “pay debts,” leaving indigenous maritime businesses struggling for financial support.

In a further twist, Jackson Ude revealed that a sex tape involving one of the suspects in the bribery scandal has surfaced during the EFCC’s investigation, hinting at even deeper layers of intrigue and misconduct within the administration.

As the investigation unfolds, the public is left to ponder the implications of these revelations on governance and accountability in Nigeria.

The Street Reporters Newspaper had reported that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had sounded alarm that Nigeria’s corruption has reached a critical point, allegeging that over N700bn billion in bribes was paid to official of government in 2023.

Obasanjo, a retired General of the Nigerian Army spoke in his keynote address on the topic, ‘Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,’ delivered at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, in the United States of America.

StreetReporters.ng

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