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Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has taken into custody a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, following allegations linked to his time in office.
Multiple officials familiar with the matter confirmed that Jamoh remained under ICPC detention as of late Tuesday night, as investigators deepened their probe into petitions submitted against him.
Jamoh led NIMASA between 2020 and 2023, a period now under renewed scrutiny.
According to sources close to the investigation, the former maritime chief was detained after repeatedly failing to respond to formal invitations issued by the commission.
The invitations, it was learned, were connected to complaints questioning procurement decisions made during his tenure.
One official explained that a key petition accused Jamoh of manipulating contract processes to secure personal benefits, an allegation investigators are treating as a possible abuse of office.
“The concern is not just about procedure, but whether public resources were deliberately redirected for private gain,” the source said.
Moreover, the source noted that the ICPC decided to act after exhausting administrative options.
“Several invitations were sent and ignored. At that point, the commission had little choice but to compel his appearance,” the official added.
When contacted, ICPC spokesperson John Odey acknowledged that Jamoh was in the agency’s custody.
However, he declined to outline the specific accusations, citing the sensitive nature of ongoing investigations.
“I can confirm he is with us, but details will be made available at the appropriate time,” Odey said.
Earlier controversy resurfaces
Meanwhile, Jamoh’s detention has revived public attention on an earlier financial controversy that trailed him while he was still in office.
In 2021, allegations surfaced accusing him of involvement in a massive financial diversion running into trillions of naira.
At the time, a social media commentator, Jackson Ude, alleged that N1.5 trillion had been moved into accounts purportedly linked to the former NIMASA boss.
The claims also included accusations of an additional $9.5 million allegedly traced to another account.
Ude had publicly insisted that documentary evidence existed to support his claims, a move that triggered widespread debate across political and maritime circles.
In response, Jamoh denied the allegations and formally requested an investigation.
In a letter addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Jamoh urged the agency to conduct what he described as a comprehensive and impartial inquiry.
He maintained that an official probe would clear his name and correct what he termed misinformation in the public space.
“This matter deserves a transparent investigation so the truth can be established beyond speculation,” Jamoh said at the time, according to associates familiar with the correspondence.
However, further checks indicated that the EFCC did not publicly conclude or act decisively on the allegations, leaving the issue unresolved in the eyes of many observers.
Focus shifts to accountability
Consequently, analysts say the ICPC’s current action signals a broader push by anti-graft agencies to revisit unresolved allegations involving former public officials.
While it remains unclear whether the fresh investigation is directly linked to the earlier claims, sources insist the focus is on procurement practices and administrative conduct at NIMASA.
Anti-corruption advocates argue that the case underscores the importance of institutional accountability beyond an official’s time in office.
“Leaving office should not mean escaping scrutiny,” said a governance expert who requested anonymity.
“If there are unanswered questions, agencies must pursue them.”
As investigations continue, the ICPC has not indicated whether Jamoh will be formally charged or released on administrative bail.
For now, officials say inquiries are ongoing and outcomes will depend on findings from documents, procurement records, and witness statements.
Hence, the coming days are expected to shed more light on the scope of the probe and whether it will lead to prosecution or further institutional reviews within the maritime sector.