Reps uncover monumental fraud in Maritime Academy

The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, on Thursday alleged that there was monumental fraud in Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.

Rep. Mohammed Bago (Niger-APC) Chairman and other members of the committee spoke during the review of the five per cent NIMASA fund and other internally generated revenue in the 2016 budget.

They threatened to issue a bench warrant against Mr Kayode Adetunji, Head of Bursary ``for misleading the parliament.’’

Rep. Dan Asuquo (PDP-Cross River), queried the acting rector over non-payment of contractors for work completed since 2011.

``We went through the procurement for some of these projects.

``For example, the contract for the construction of a 3-bedroom bungalow was awarded at N34 million. A kobo has not been paid but N20 million was recorded to have been paid.

``If you have anything to show, this committee would like to see it.

``Your accountant or director of finance knows what we are talking about and as a committee we would go to any length to recover this’’, he said.

The committee also queried the N73 million for the cleaning of the academy, N100 million for purchase of 2 units of generators and inverter.

``I think there's a kind of duplication in the budget. After buying generators why do you need to buy inverters?"

Mr Anthony Ishiodu, Rector of the Academy, said the committee approved N2 billion for the intervention fund out of which only N1 billion was released in 2013.

He added that N500 million was given in 2014 leaving the balance of N500 million expected from NIMASA while the institution needed to train 10 lecturers to PHD level overseas to enable the upgrade of the academy.

The Rector added that programmes being run by the academy were not available in the country.

On ongoing projects, he explained that the N2.6 billion earmarked depended on the level of job completion.

Chairman of the committee explained that five per cent of NIMASA’s revenue was supposed to be remitted into the academy’s account in line with NIMASA Act.

He requested for the list of the lecturers shortlisted for the doctoral degrees overseas.