After barely three days in the saddle, Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi who took over from Patrick Akpobolokemi as Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been removed from office. It was gathered that Obi was asked to relinquish the position because he is not the “most senior officer” in NIMASA hence should not have taken over from Akpobolokemi as Acting Director General.
Consequently, the most senior officer, the Executive Director Finance and Administration, Baba Haruna Jauro has formally assumed the position of NIMASA’s Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer.
Jauro’s victory did not come easy as he had to formally lodge a protest against the erstwhile DG to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Curiously, NIMASA has not issued any press release to intimate the public of the new development.
It is still unclear why Akpobolokemi chose to hand over to Obi on Tuesday despite protests by Jauro.
While Obi, Jauro and the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development were all appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan the same day –July 24, 2012; Jauro claims his seniority from the fact that he resumed duties at the Maritime House 24 hours ahead of the others.
By Pita Ochai
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