Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) board members are fighting dirty over the finances of the parastatal and the first casualty may be Managing Director, Abib Abdullahi.
He may be fired by President Goodluck Jonathan with the myriad of petitions against him alleging corruption and ineptitude.
The squabble arose from the allegation by the top hierarchy of the NPA that Abdullahi awarded contracts to companies owned by his cronies.
Petitions have been written to Transport Minister, Umar Idris, and Jonathan demanding investigation.
The relationship between Abdullahi and Idris reportedly became frosty after Idris queried him upon receiving the petitions.
He is accused of contract inflation, awarding contracts to proxy companies, and approving funds beyond his authority.
“Abdullahi may be sacked because he is at the centre of all these crises,” a source disclosed.
“Remember that Idris has taken the matter to the president and it is receiving adequate attention. You don’t run a parastatal like NPA as if it belongs to you.”
Late last month, Abdullahi allegedly approved N24 million to a member of the board, Senator Ita Giwa, to fund her daughter’s wedding.
Another member of the board, Dan Angundi, and top management staff were said to be angry that the money was not spent on the wedding but channeled into other personal areas.
To douse the tension, Abdullahi allegedly approved contracts for other members of the board, the least of them costing N19 million, so they could raise money to celebrate Sallah.
But Angundi, a member of the board from Kano State, allegedly rejected the largesse, insisting that he could not be bought over by a cheap contract.
“Dan rejected the contract. You know he is an honest man. He doesn’t want to be linked with any dirty deal. That is why he said he would not accept such an offer,” the source disclosed.
NPA Assistant General Manager (Corporate Affairs), Musa Iliya, could not be reached for comment. His telephone line was switched off.
