Mohammed Bello-Koko has been appointed the substantive managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. This is even as embattled Hadiza Bala Usma
Mohammed Bello-Koko has been appointed the substantive managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority.
This is even as embattled Hadiza Bala Usman, the former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was cleared of allegations of failing to remit N165 billion operating surplus to the coffers of the federal government.
A former New generation bank’s accounts officer to the Rivers states government when Amaechi was governor, Bello-Koko was the executive director, finance & administration of NPA.
The 11-member committee set up by the ministry of transportation to probe the alleged fraud against Bala-Usman, instead decided to shift its attention to allegations of insubordination to Rotimi Amaechi, the minister.
She was accused of ignoring ministerial directives and communicating directly with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Usman was originally suspended in May 2021 by the minister over N165 billion missng from the coffers of the agency but the committee did not find any evidence in its account reconciliation.
According to TheCable, when Amaechi presented the report to Buhari and asked for permission to remove Usman based on “insubordination”, the president refused to give approval but instead directed the minister to issue a query to the former NPA MD.
Amaechi, presidency sources said Usman had already defended herself before the committee, but Buhari insisted that she be allowed to respond to the report before any further action is taken.
“A visibly disappointed Amaechi then directed Magdalene Ajani, the permanent secretary, to issue the query,” the source said, adding that Buhari refused to be presented with a “fait accompli”.
Conspicuously missing in the 10 items of query is the original reason for her suspension — the allegation that N165 billion was not remitted to the treasure single account (TSA) which made the headlines.
Bala-Usman responded to the query dated January 26, 2022, wthin a week.
The committee accused Usman of the following acts of insubordination.
- Disregard for ministerial directive in respect of the Bonny/Port Harcourt and Lagos port channel management contract
- Unlawful procurement of the operation of truck transit park for port bound trucks (e-callup) with the non-payment into TSA
- Unilateral execution of a supplemental agreement in respect of the Lekki Deep Seaport concession project
- Breach of the channels of the communication in the public service
- Unilateral and improper use of the emergency procurement mode to procure vehicles
- Waiver, rebates and tariffs granted by NPA without requisite approval
- disobedience of court order in respect of pilotage contract between NPA and Intels
- Disregard of court order in the matter between NPA and BUA ports and terminal limited in respect of the concession of Terminal B Rivers ports complex.
- Breach of presidential/ministerial directive in the matter of the LADOL/Samsung dispute
- Lease of Koko Port to Messers Creek Shore Jetty and Terminal Ltd.
In her she denied all the allegations insisting that she carried out all of her duties, legally
