Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The embattled Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah has defied a strong Presidential directive that any appointee who wishes to seek for an elective position in the forthcoming elections should resign latest on March 31, 2026.
Akutah who showed no respect to the order made by President Bola Tinubu through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume refused to resign and has still not resigned till today but, has secretly obtained the APC nomination forms for the 2027 governorship election in Benue State.
Recall that some pressure groups across the country have recently dragged Akutah before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for presiding over a band of fraud worth N36b at the Shipper Council.
Akutah was accused of stealing Shippers Council funds to finance his much desired governorship election.
Apart from defying an order by President Bola Tinubu, the embattled Executive Secretary of the NSC has also been sponsoring three governorship aspirants under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state.
His plan, according to those in the show is to make the People’s Democratic Party present a weak aspirant among the three he is sponsoring in the main opposition party.
Apart from PDP, Akutah has also given a whooping N300m to the Labour Party leaders in Benue state to stop Herman Hembe from emerging as the Governorship candidate of the party in the election.
Akutah believed he will defeat the incumbent governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia at the APC primaries as a result of his long standing relationship with SGF George Akume but political analysts stated that the governor will secure the APC ticket without stress as a result of the decision of the party hierarchy to give return ticket to first time governors within the ruling party.
A close source told this newspaper that Akutah had recently approached a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state on a possible way for him to secure the opposition party’s ticket but the Chieftain (name withheld) told him to go and consult Senator George Akume as he wouldn’t want to offend the SGF by negotiating anything with him (Akutah) without his consent. This development according to the source led to why Akutah didn’t resign on March 31.
Recall that the Coalition Against Corruption and Social Vices (CACSV) has dragged the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over the illegal diversion of the Council’s N36 billion.
The advocacy group in its petition to the anti graft agency claimed that the N36 billion was diverted by Dr. Akutah and two others between June and December 2025.
In a petition dated February 2, 2026 and acknowledged by the anti-graft agency under reference number EFCC/PET/HQR/0598/2026, the group accused the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Mr. Pius G. Akutah, alongside the Director of Inland Transport Services, Mr. Garta Ahmadu, and the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Olaniyi Stephen, of illegally diverting the Council’s funds for personal use.
The petition, signed by the National Convener, Dr. Samuel Mashin, and the National Secretary, Christopher lorumbe, alleged that the trio engaged in multiple acts of financial misconduct, including the unauthorised release and approval of Council funds.
According to the group, the alleged infractions extend beyond the purported N36 billion diversion, claiming that an additional N2 billion was siphoned from the Council’s treasury for the purchase of 50 units of 2027 Toyota Sienna vehicles, allegedly linked to a planned 2027 governorship ambition.
The petitioners further accused the NSC leadership of approving what they described as illegal hikes in shipping and terminal charges without due consideration of the broader economic implications.
They alleged that the increases had resulted in cargo diversion to neighbouring countries and a decline in government revenue.
They also claimed that the Executive Secretary’s actions allegedly encouraged fraudulent practices among senior officials within the Council, thereby weakening confidence in Nigeria’s maritime regulatory framework.
The group said it had submitted documentary evidence to the EFCC to support its claims and urged the Commission to invite the officials named in the petition for questioning.
“We are ready to testify against the three of them at any trial court if invited,” the petitioners stated, while calling on the anti-graft agency to ensure that the accused persons do not interfere with the investigative process.
Efforts to reach Dr. Akutah or any of his media Aides for his reactions were unsuccessful as none of them pick calls from this newspaper as at the time of filing this report.