Another witness explains how Akpobolokemi diverted N496m NIMASA money

Another witness, Orji Chukwuma, on Friday detailed how former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and others cornered N496million of the agency.

Chukwuma, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, alleged that the money was approved in July 2014 by a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), for the execution of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme in NIMASA.

The EFCC witness made this revelation at the resumption trial of Akpobolokemi and six others namely Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited, who are standing trial on alleged theft of N754.7million NIMASA money.

Chukwuma who was led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, claimed that Akpobolokemi raised a memo to the office of the NSA.

“The memo requested the sum of N496m and attached to the memo was a detailed table describing how the money was to be spent.

“After the money was disbursed, the first defendant made a request that the said sum be transferred to a private Zenith Bank account with number 1013961926,” he said.

He went further revealed that the defendants laundered the money by giving fictitious contracts to some companies and that the awards were never carried out.

Read also: Witness tells how ex-NIMASA boss, Akpobolokemi, others allegedly stole over N3.4b

He said, “Two of those companies were Arowald Consulting and Kofa Fada Nigeria Limited. We spent two days searching for the location and addresses of these companies. Investigations revealed that N11m was transferred to one Nkechi Aneke, who was a relative of a lady captain working in NIMASA.

“We invited her to the EFCC where, during interrogation, she claimed she had no idea how the money got into her account. She eventually refunded the money to the Commission.”

According to Chukwuma, the third defendant criminally made eight different withdrawals of N3m from the NIMASA account on the order of the second suspect.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi, having listened to the witness, adjourned till November 30.

A witness of the EFCC, Mr Kanu Idagu, had also on Monday October 17, disclosed before the Federal High Court in Lagos how Akpobolokemi, and others allegedly stole over N3.4billion.
By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

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