Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested and detained Dr. Bashir Jamoh, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Jamoh was reportedly intercepted by armed ICPC officials in Kaduna State on Monday while returning from a court engagement. Sources said the anti-graft operatives subsequently conducted a search of his residence before transferring him to Abuja for interrogation.
The arrest follows a N300 billion corruption petition filed against Jamoh in May 2025 by a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP). The petition alleged financial irregularities during his 2020–2024 tenure, including inflated leasing costs for speedboats and the unauthorised recruitment of over 500 individuals.
The timing of the arrest has sparked speculation in Kaduna, where Jamoh is widely rumoured to be a frontrunner for the 2027 gubernatorial election. Supporters of the former maritime chief have described the move as a “pre-emptive strike” by political rivals, suggesting that old petitions were revived as his political profile rose.
Investigators are reportedly focusing on multiple issues beyond political conjecture. Jamoh’s tenure was previously marred by a N500 million fine imposed on NIMASA by the Financial Reporting Council in late 2023 over fraudulent financial statements, which also led to his disqualification from certifying reports.
The ICPC probe is expected to scrutinise the controversial Deep Blue Project and a reported surge in NIMASA’s training budget, which rose from N66 million in 2019 to N1.6 billion under Jamoh’s leadership without clear deliverables.
As of filing, the ICPC has yet to release an official statement or formally press charges against Jamoh.
