A group of civil society organizations, Vanguard For New Nigeria (VNN) has written to the President, Bola Tinubu, calling for the immediate sack and prosecution of the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Muhammed Bello Koko over his alleged involvement in corruption.

VNN expressed dissatisfaction that despite several reports indicting the NPA boss, and several invitations extended to him by the Senate which he did not honour, he has continued to enjoy political cover, shielding him from sack, arrest and prosecution.

Vanguard for New Nigeria while stating that the decision to pick Muhammed Bello Koko to head Nigerian Ports Authority is a case study noted that series of corruption in the agency under him has deterred foreign investors from choosing Nigeria as a choice of destination.

Detailing series of corruption allegations under the NPA boss, VNN said, “On October 6th 2021, the famous online paper Premium-times provided detailed analysis on offshore companies and properties run by the NPA head Bello Koko titled “Inside the Secret offshore companies, London properties of NPA Chief, Bello-Koko.

“According to premium Times investigation, Bello Koko “is involved in offshore shenanigans, hiding behind two shell companies incorporated in a tax and secrecy heaven to anonymously invest in the United Kingdom protect market, potentially violating Nigeria’s public service code of conduct laws .”

“Again in November 27th 2022, Sahara Reporters  also published an investigative report released by the Economic and financial crime commission in which the EFCC have established a case of fraud against Bello Koko. According to the report, the MD of the Nigeria ports authority was indicted “of being involved N829 Million fraud through kickbacks and money laundering activities.” The EFCC investigation report which was exclusively obtained by Sahara Reporters in April of last year revealed that Koko after being investigated was found to have received monies worth over N800 Million from NPA contractors. 

“Fraud, extortion, tax evasion, forgery and money laundering are  the tags that Bello  Koko is often known for both in Nigeria and across borders. Following refusal of the Nigerian government to hold Bello Koko accountable despite undeniable corruption cases  established against the MD by the EFCC, a UK based fraud and corruption investigators dug further and found Koko to be deeply involved in  so many alleged criminal acts bordering on money laundering, fraud, forgery, tax evasion and extortion. Consequently, the corruption investigative team wrote a letter signed by Michael  O’ Leary for UK/Ireland investigators to the UK Home office Secretary 2, Marsham Street London SW1 4DF seeking for the total confiscation and forfeiture of properties allegedly by Bello Koko through questionable means.

“Despite many waves of alleged  corruptions cases established against Bello Koko by the EFCC and other local and international private investors, and despite complaints of alleged corruption and extortion from local and international Maritime stakeholders, the Buhari And now Tinubu government seems powerless and helpless to take any action to indicate that the Tinubu regime is anything but serious about fighting corruption.

“According to the former Executive  Director of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime Mr Yury Fedotov, “Corruption is a global phenomenon and evidence shows that it harms developing countries by stifling economic growth and often leads to diversion of desperately needed foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to other countries that are considered less corrupt.”

“Furthermore, Dr. Rahim M Quazi of Texas A&M University, under his International Business research thesis titled “Impact of Corruption on foreign direct investment in Africa” described in details under his “grabbing hand hypothesis” that evidence have shown how corruption often largely impedes foreign direct investment in Africa by raising uncertainty in the minds of most, if not all, prospective investors be it individuals, organizations or sovereign countries.” These uncertainty that corruption create in the minds of potential foreign investors are usually exacerbated where and when the host country displays absolutely no concern or determination to hold it’s otherwise indicted public servant accountable.

“It is worthy of note that the Nigeria Ports Authority is an agency with operations involving both developed and developing countries across the globe  and the seriousness of the economic developmental interactions with which these countries will take Nigeria depends largely on the kind of personality that the Nigerian government assigned with the responsibility to run such a sensitive agency. 

“Hence the purpose of picking Muhammed Bello Koko and the Nigerian Ports Authority as a case study.

“On October 3rd 2021, the whole world woke up to the scandalous publication of over 11 million leaked documents by the International consortium of investigative journalists involving world politicians,  Business leaders and heads of sensitive agencies across different countries of the world. Furthermore.

“on October 6th 2021, the famous online paper Premium-times provided detailed analysis on offshore companies and properties run by the NPA head Bello Koko titled “Inside the Secret offshore companies, London properties of NPA Chief, Bello-Koko.

“According to premium Times investigation, Bello Koko “is involved in offshore shenanigans, hiding behind two shell companies incorporated in a tax and secrecy heaven to anonymously invest in the United Kingdom protect market, potentially violating Nigeria’s public service code of conduct laws .”

“Again in November 27th 2022, Sahara Reporters  also published an investigative report released by the Economic and financial crime commission in which the EFCC have established a case of fraud against Bello Koko. According to the report, the MD of the Nigeria ports authority was indicted “of being involved N829 Million fraud through kickbacks and money laundering activities.” The EFCC investigation report which was exclusively obtained by Sahara Reporters in April of last year revealed that Koko after being investigated was found to have received monies worth over N800 Million from NPA contractors. 

“Fraud, extortion, tax evasion, forgery and money laundering are  the tags that Bello  Koko is often known for both in Nigeria and across borders. Following refusal of the Nigerian government to hold Bello Koko accountable despite undeniable corruption cases  established against the MD by the EFCC, a UK based fraud and corruption investigators dug further and found Koko to be deeply involved in  so many alleged criminal acts bordering on money laundering, fraud, forgery, tax evasion and extortion. Consequently, the corruption investigative team wrote a letter signed by Michael  O’ Leary for UK/Ireland investigators to the UK Home office Secretary 2, Marsham Street London SW1 4DF seeking for the total confiscation and forfeiture of properties allegedly by Bello Koko through questionable means.

“despite many waves of alleged  corruptions cases established against Bello Koko by the EFCC and other local and international private investors, and despite complaints of alleged corruption and extortion from local and international Maritime stakeholders, the Buhari And now Tinubu government seems powerless and helpless to take any action to indicate that the Tinubu regime is anything but serious about fighting corruption. However, many concerned  stakeholders within the Nigerian Maritime industry and those outside Nigeria that are looking to partner with the Nigeria government on bringing in investment have been expressing fears that regardless of corruption charges against Bello Koko the Tinubu government may not be able to act in a morally rational manner as it is widely and allegedly believed that very powerful individuals close to the president such as Oba of Lagos and the maritime business mogul Mr Gilbert Chagoury are providing political cover for the MD in exchange for juicy contract from the Nigeria Ports Authority.”