Maritime stakeholders condemn illegal ICPC detention of Ex- NIMASA DG, Jamoh, demand release

Maritime stakeholders under the aegis of the Maritime Elders Forum have condemned the ongoing detention of the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, calling his week-long incarceration by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) a violation of his fundamental human rights.

In an open letter addressed to the ICPC and signed by the Convener of the Forum, Elder Asu Beks, the group expressed concern over the commission’s failure to provide an official statement regarding the arrest or file formal charges in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Dr. Jamoh was reportedly intercepted by ICPC operatives in Kaduna on Monday, February 2, 2026, while returning from a court engagement.

Sources say his residence was searched before he was whisked away to Abuja for interrogation. Despite being in custody for nearly a week, his legal team and family allege they have been denied access to him.

The group while defending Jamoh’s tenure as DG between 2020–2024, highlighted his meritorious service, noting that his leadership transformed Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime community.

“As Director General of NIMASA between 2020 and 2024, Dr Jamoh served meritoriously as helmsman ,introducing several innovative tools and reforms to improve Maritime Adminstration, Safety and Security in Nigeria and by extention, the gulf of Guinea.

“The famous Deep Blue project which has brought relative peace in the Gulf of Guinea was launched under the watch of Dr Bashir Jamoh. This launch effectively policed Nigeria teritorial waters and the Gulf Of Guinea which had earned a notoriety for piracy.

“The Deep Blue project on the ocassion of its launch by Late President Muhammadu Buhari on June 10, 2021, deployed three special mission aircraft,three helicopters,two special mission vessels, 17 fast international boats and 17 armoured vehicles.It is also on record that Jamoh also spear headed the removal of Nigeria from the International Maritime Bureau( IMB) piracy red list and enhanced Nigeria’s security through the faciltation and enforcement of the Suppression of Piracy and other Related ( SPOMO) Act which enabled NIMASA to successfully prosecute criminals operating in our waterways.

“It is also on record that under Jamoh’s watch ,the Nigerian Seafearers Development Programne, NSDP , was rebranded in line with international best practices.

“We at the Maritime Elders Forum presume that under the Nigeria 1999 Constitution as ammended, Jamoh is presumed innocent of all allegations made against him ,except on conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“We urge the ICPC to release Dr Jamoh and allow him have access to his family and lawyers as his continued detention without trial is a breach and violation of his fundamental rights to freedom and fair hearing, ” the letter reads.

While the ICPC Is yet to issue an official statement on the arrest or specific allegations against Jamoh, sources say the investigation is linked to a 2025 petition alleging financial irregularities totaling ₦300 billion during his tenure.

Supporters of the former DG , however, have described the timing of the arrest as politically motivated, citing Jamoh’s rumored interest in the 2027 Kaduna State gubernatorial race.