Following a motion of urgent national importance, the House of Representatives is set begin investigation into an alleged secret account operated by the Nigerian Ports Authority with Unity Bank Plc.
The House during plenary on Thursday, directed its committees on finance as well a ports and harbour to probe the NPA.
However, the management of the authority has said it welcomed the decision of the lawmakers to probe the allegation.
A whistleblower, Mr John Okpurhe, had threatened to sue the Federal Government for denying him his benefits after helping to uncover $1bn cloned account belonging to the NPA.
But the NPA had denied operating a cloned account, saying the report by the whistle-blower was untrue.
Jatto Adams, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, said while awaiting communication from the house committees on the proposed probe, the authority wished to restate its earlier position that the bank account number “does not exist” as evidenced by a February 12, 2020 letter from the bank.
“The NPA operates an account with Unity Bank Plc with account number: 0013670344 with a total sum of $1,057,772.03 as of December 4, 2019 and not $1,034,515,000 as alleged by the petitioner,” Jatto stated.
He however noted that the NPA account had 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.
