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A’Court frees ex-NIMASA boss Akpobolokemi

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Witness reveals he kept $2m at home for Ex-NIMASA DG, Akpobolokemi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lost the case of alleged N2.6 billion fraud it levelled against a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

This came as the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Friday discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi of all the charges levelled against him in respect of the alleged fraud.

In its lead judgment delivered by Justice Yargatta Nimpar, a three – man panel of the appellate court upheld the no-case submission filed by Akpolokemi in response to the criminal charges.

The ruling came after a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, had on October 16, 2017, dismissed Akpobolokemi’s no – case submission on the criminal charge against him.

But ruling on the matter on Friday, the Court of Appeal overruled Justice Buba’s judgement and set the defendant free.

On December 4, 2015, the EFCC had after earlier arrest and detention of Akpobolokemi, arraigned him alongside five others for allegedly diverting the supposed money from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013 and May 2015.

The commission had claimed the funds were approved by ex- President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project tagged, “International Ship and Ports Security Code in Nigerian Ports,” but was diverted by the defendants.

Charged alongside Akpobolokemi were Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan , Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al – Kenzo Logistics Limited.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges the EFCC levelled against them when they were arraigned, leading to their prosecution.

READ ALSO : EFCC chases corrupt Nigerians to banks

After the EFCC closed its case having called 12 witnesses to testify in the matter and tendered 77 exhibits, all the defendants filed a no case submission arguing that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

The no-case submission was however dismissed by Justice Buba on October 16, 2017.

The matter was subsequently dragged to the Appeal Court where Akpobolokemi on this Friday, June 1, acquitted and discharged of the entire 22 counts.

Meanwhile, the five other defendants were not set free, as the appellate court upheld Justice Buba ’s verdict that they had a case to answer.

 

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