• Governors accuse minister of impunity, want suspension quashed
• Lobbyists want Koko dropped as Acting MD
• Minister appoints seven-man panel
By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern
The suspension of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, is causing ripples in the Presidency, The Nation can report.
Hadiza was asked to step aside on Thursday while an administrative panel examines the books of the organisation.
Although the Presidency which ordered the suspension gave no reason for its action, sources said it has to do with the alleged non-remittance of N165.3 billion surpluses of the NPA into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) by the suspended MD.
Renowned Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Sebastine Hon, has insisted that the realization of financial independence of the Judiciary in the country lies solely with the federal government.
Hon argued that the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike by the judiciary workers in Nigeria could have been averted if the constitution had been properly understood and interpreted by parties.
In a strong-worded letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, titled: “The JUSUN Strike Action and The Correct Position of The Constitution on Financial Independence For The Judiciary in Nigeria”, the constitutional lawyer said that all courts of superior records are creation of the federation and not of any state.
Accountant-General flags N7.5bn ‘unaccounted’ contracts
The administrative panel of inquiry set up to probe the suspended managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, is set to commence work early next week with a focus on N165.32 billion alleged to be unremitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) by the NPA management under her leadership.
Daily Trust Saturday gathered yesterday that the panel, headed by director maritime in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, may also expand its probe in accordance with the presidential approval to audit the accounts of the NPA.
One area the committee is likely going to look at, according to insiders, is award of contracts.
By Dirisu Yakubu
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, a few days ago, ruffled some feathers following the
suspension of Hadiza Bala-Usman as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amaechi whose Ministry supervises NPA is not happy that the agency has not been financially prudent in the management of its finances since 2016 when Bala-Usman was appointed to oversee the plum agency.
In a letter dated 4th March 2021, addressed to President Buhari, Amaechi prayed the Commander-in-Chief to cause an investigation to be carried out to ascertain the financial records of NPA.
Titled “Remittance of Operating Surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account by the Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016-Date,” the Minister drew the attention of the President to what he believed counts for a financial misdeed.
Buhari probes N165 32bn unremitted operating surplus by NPA punchng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from punchng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.