NPA Boss Surrenders Self for Investigation

By Dipo Olowookere

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, has said she was ready to be available for investigation over fraud allegation against her.

In a statement she signed, Mrs Usman said she was not afraid to be probed, saying she has nothing to hide since becoming the MD of the NPA.

She accused one Prince Henry Nwazuruahu of trying to tarnish her image and challenged him to “bring up evidence” of fraudulent activities against her.

There are speculations that the Presidency has ordered an investigation into the financial books of the NPA under the management of Mrs Usman, but the NPA boss said she is not aware of such.

“I wish to CHALLENGE him to bring up evidence of any such meeting with any APC Chieftain and any monies being given.

“I wish to challenge him to provide the authorship to this report whom I shall file a suit against in the court of law for defamation of character.

“In the last few days, I have faced a barrage of false malicious lies against my person in the media and I know the sponsors of this.

“I will not budge on my position on compliance to Federal Government of Nigeria policies and I will not bow on my stance to rid the NPA of corrupt practices.

“I will not be cowed or intimidated into conforming to corrupt practices of cheating the Federal government of its revenues.

“I have been issued with death threats and veiled messages conveying that my life is at risk because of the stance I have taken.

“No false media attacks or threats to my life will stand in the way of my doing the right thing.

“Finally, we have not received any such notification by the presidency of an investigation into our financial books; and indeed, we are open to any of such investigation as we have nothing to hide,” she said in the statement.