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‘GEJ, Dasuki approved N1bn transfers to NIMASA’

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The Federal High Court in Lagos was on Thursday told that the presidency under former President Goodluck Jonathan, through the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, approved the transfer of monies to the tune of over N1 billion to some accounts at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The agency’s Assistant Director, Financial Services Department, Mrs Olamide Odusanya, said NIMASA opened some accounts without the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Specifically, she said a former NIMASA Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, approved the transfer of over N1billion into one of the accounts.

According to her, the accounts were opened for the use of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) committee, chaired by NIMASA’s former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Captain Ezekiel Agaba.

Odusanya testified before Justice Ibrahim Buba in the trial of Akpobolokemi, Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan, and Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them with converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year, to which they pleaded not guilty.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said while the Accountant-General’s permission was obtained before NIMASA’s revenue and operational accounts were, no such permission was sought or obtained for ISPS’ four accounts.

According to the witness, on June 3, 2013, N60.8million was credited to the committee’s account with Access Bank; and on January 3, 2014, N1,125,400,000 was transferred to the account based on Akpobolokemi’s approval.

Mrs Odusanya said N795,200,000 was transferred to ISPS’ Zenith Bank account on August 29, 2014; last May 20, it was credited with N447,000,000.

“The approval to credit the ISPS account was given by the Director-General,” she said.

She added: “Before money is transferred to ISPS accounts, approval is first obtained from the Presidency through the NSA. Once the approval comes, the Chief Executive Officer (Akpobolokemi) will ask the Chairman (Agaba) to minute to the Financial Director to process payment.

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“A memo will be written by the chairman to be sent to the Director of Financial Services who will issue transfer instruction to the bank,” she said.

On one of the payment instructions to the bank tendered before the court, she confirmed that Akpobolokemi wrote: “Approved. Please comply.”

According to her, money cannot leave NIMASA without Akpobolokemi’s authorisation, being the “chief accounting officer”.

Earlier, two Bureau De Change operators Yahaya Mohammed and Wakili Daudu, who run Kofa Fada Nigeria Limited, testified that Agaba gave them cash to covert to dollars for him.

According to them, Agaba gave them N85million to convert to dollars on November 14, 2014, as well as N100million on November 7, 2014. They said he gave them N50million twice the same day.

The witnesses, who spoke in pidgin, however said the transactions with Agaba were not documented.

“Na only me go him office for NIMASA go give am the money,” Mohammed said.

Justice Buba adjourned until March 1 for continuation of trial.

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