The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has debunked having a secret account with Unity Bank Plc.
The denial followed a motion of urgent national importance and the consequent resolution of the House of Representatives to investigate the said alleged secret account.
The denial is contained in a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Nigerian Ports Authority, Jatto A Adams.
NPA said while awaiting communications from the House Committees on Finance and Ports and Habours on the proposed investigations, it maintained, as contained in its earlier statement issued during the week, that the Unity Bank account number: 0013680344, cited by the whistleblower, Mr. Okpurhe, did not exist as evidenced by a February 12,2020 letter from Unity Bank Plc.
The NPA explained that it operated an account with Unity Bank Plc with number: 0013670344 with a total sum of$1,057,772.03 as of December 4, 2019 and not $1,034,515,000.00 as alleged by the petitioner.
It stated that the account had, however, 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, NPA said, the judgment creditors continued with the Garnishee process which resulted in the credit of the amount $1,057,772.03 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 said that it was therefore obvious that there was no cloned account as speculated in the alleged whistle blowing effort of Mr. Okpurhe.
The account under discussion was said to have been 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.
