Ex-NIMASA DG, Chime’s ex-CoS join EFCC’s target list

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday grilled former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi and Mrs, Ifeoma Nwobodo, the former Chief of Staff to former governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime.

It was gathered that Akpobolokemi had honoured an invitation by the EFCC to the commission’s Lagos office in Ikoyi and was immediately taken in for questioning by a team of investigators.

Sources said that Akpobolokemi was not “allowed a breathing space until about 7pm” when he was granted bail on self-recognition and ordered to report back to the EFCC office on Friday (today).

One of the sources said, “We were waiting for him, and as soon as he arrived, at 10am that we told him to come, our officers started questioning him.

“Before he was invited, we made our own discreet investigation and we discovered some irregularities in NIMASA’s operation when he was the DG. Our dossier on him is complete”, an EFCC official stated.

It was gathered that the commission believed that Akpobolokemi had questions to answer over some “questionable transactions” running into billions of naira which were approved by the him.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that more NIMASA officers are likely to be picked by the anti- graft body to answer questions on activities of the agency.

Also, it was discovered that Akpobolokemi’s successor at the agency is carrying out massive redeployment of staff, and harmonization of appointments in the organization.

A number of officers who were said not to have taken part in the last written test conducted but favoured with promotions, are being demoted to their former grades.

Read also: Buhari sacks NIMASA boss, dissolves boards of parastatals

Also, the EFCC appeared to be closing in on ex-Governor Chime with the invitation of his former Chief of Staff, Mrs. Nwobodo.

The invitation of Mrs. Nwobodo was said to be the beginning of a comprehensive probe into the administration of ex-Governor Chime.

The EFCC source said Mrs. Nwobodo arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja about 9.30am to respond to issues against her and the administration of Chime.

The source added: “The former Chief of Staff was immediately ushered into the interrogation room to meet a team of crack detectives.

The sundry allegations border essentially on conspiracy, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.

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