EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG over alleged N3.4b fraud

By Ali Smart

The immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi had his day in court on Thursday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

They are being tried for allegedly stealing N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA.

The anti-graft body said the alleged offence contravenes Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).

The others are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Fredrick, Timi Alari and two companies Al-Kenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.

According to the charge dated November 20, signed by Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Iseoluwa, the accused persons converted the sums between December 2013 and July 15 this year.

In count one, the defendants allegedly “conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of ‎N1,151,214,000.00, property of NIMASA, which sum was derived from stealing…”

EFCC said on December 23, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N861.5million. On July 7 and 15 this year, they allegedly converted N235.4million.

Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Nwakuche and Al-Kenzo were accused of converting N60million which they “derived from stealing.”

On December 24, 2013, Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Alari, Bob-Nabena, and Grace Subai, said to be at large, allegedly converted N20million, property of NIMASA.

Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Enisuoh, Fredrick and Peniel Engineering were accused of converting N138.5million on January 3, 2014 and on March 27, 2014.

Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Juan and Nwakuche allegedly converted N65million on July 10, 2014; as well as N86million and N80million on the same day.

On May 28, 2014, they allegedly converted N65million, and on December 19, 2014, they were accused of converting N65million.

Between July 7 and December 14, 2014, EFCC said they converted N261.3million, among other sums in the 30-count charge, all of which amounted to N3,407,629,000.

They all pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

After taking their pleas, Akpobolokemi’s lawyer Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and other defence counsel said they had bail applications.

Nwobike urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.

Justice Saidu granted Akpobolokemi bail for N100million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge subsequently ordered the defendants to surrender their International Passports, including sureties’ addresses to be verified by the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.
Justice Saidu ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

He adjourned proceedings to January 29 for trial.

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