A Lagos-based contractor and former consultant to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adesola Babington, has appealed for justice over the alleged unauthorised withdrawal of more than N40 million from his companies’ bank accounts by a longtime associate, Emmanuel Akporherhe.

Babington told The Guardian that he enjoyed a close relationship with Akporherhe between 2004 and 2019, describing him as “a brother from another parent.”

According to him, the trust between them led him to entrust Akporherhe with the financial instruments of his two companies in 2018 after he was appointed Tin Can Island Port Manager in November 2017.

He alleged that the accounts contained family savings intended to fund his political ambitions and future investments.

However, after obtaining his bank statements in June 2019, he allegedly discovered that more than N40,027,811 had been withdrawn from the accounts without his consent or any written authorisation, power of attorney or formal agreement.
Babington said he first reported the matter to the Force Intelligence Bureau at Kam Salem House in October 2019.

According to him, he initially handled the case without legal representation, while Akporherhe was represented by a lawyer.

Dissatisfied with how the matter progressed, he later withdrew the complaint and engaged legal counsel.

He further alleged that Akporherhe subsequently refunded only N8 million in four installments between October 24, 2019, and August 30, 2020, insisting that the balance remains unpaid.

He also claimed to have taken the matter to the INTERPOL office through human rights lawyer Femi Falana.

Babington maintained that the alleged withdrawals had plunged his family into severe financial hardship, destroyed his business and disrupted his social life. He said he possessed bank statements linking the transactions to Akporherhe and rejected claims that the withdrawals were authorised as repayment for loans.

When contacted by The Guardian, Akporherhe denied the allegations, describing them as false.

“He reported me to the police and made a spurious allegation. The case is before the police,” he said.

Asked whether he withdrew money from Babington’s accounts, he replied: “Never. It’s a blatant lie.”
On the allegation that he refunded N8 million, Akporherhe declined to comment, directing further comments to his lawyer.

He described Babington as “a liar, deceiver and misleader,” insisting that he had no further response while the matter remains under investigation.