Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Top Management Staff have raised an alarm over a missing N35billion at the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC with a direct accusation on the Council’a Executive Secretary, Mr. Pius Akutah.
According to top staff of the Council who spoke to selected media executive on the development, Mr. Akutah since assumption of duties as the Executive Secretary has been presiding over bands of frauds.
During an independent investigation by this newspaper, the duo of Garta Ahmadu and Mr. Olaniyi Stephen who are Directors of the Departments of Inland Transport Service and Finance and Accounts respectively were also indicted alongside Akutah.
The anonymous staff however disclosed that they have reported the matter to two different advocacy groups which are working towards filing a petition with the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti graft agencies in the country.
According to them, the Executive Secretary has been approving and releasing the Nigerian Shippers Council’s funds running into several billions of Naira while the funds are being diverted to his personal use.
They also accused him of using his cronies, the Directors of the Departments of Inland Transport Service and Finance and Accounts, Mr. Garta Ahmadu and Mr. Olaniyi Stephen to perfect the multiple frauds at the Shippers Council.
The accusers also claimed that Mr. Akutah has purchased fifty units of Brand New Toyota Sienna which are being secretly branded in Lagos for the purpose of his 2027 governorship ambition in his state, Benue .
According to them, staff entitlements haven’t been getting to them as and when due ever since Akutah assumed duties and started siphoning the Councils funds to finance his political ambition.
They also accused Akutah of dipping his hands in the Treasury of the Shippers Council where he fraudulently took N2billion for the purchase four Brand New Bullet Proof 2024 Toyota SUV.
They also accused him of using over N3billion Nigerian Shippers Council funds to procure customized rice, Hollandaise wrapper, motorcycles and other gift items which he shared in Benue state during the last Christmas celebration.
“Stealing public funds to buy food items for people just because you want them to support your political ambition is not Godly. It’s stealing and we will not stop until the missing N35billion is recovered and returned back to the treasury of the Nigerian Shippers Council ” an official of the agency said.
Furthermore, Mr. Akutah was accused of using his cronies at the Nigeria Custom Service to engage in under declaration of goods and concealment, noting that this has badly reduced the revenues of the Shippers Council .
According to them, all efforts to curb corruption at all Nigeria Ports have been frustrated because Akutah personally deployed his men to various Ports where they perpetrate fraudulent activities..
However, they called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly set up a Panel of Inquiry so that Akutah can cough out every public money he has diverted to his personal bank accounts before he resigns to begin his planned governorship aspiration in his state..