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The racket that defrauded NIMASA of N906m

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There were more revelations at the trial of a former NIMASA Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, as a lawyer and businessman, Uche Obilor, told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday of how his company was used to remove about N905,800 million from the agency.

Obilor told the Court that three of his companies got the amount from NIMASA without bidding for any contract, but he was later told to remit the amount to certain companies and individuals.

He said his companies got the following sums: Seabulk Offshore, N437million; Southern Offshore, N402million and Ace Prothesis, N66.8million.

Akpobolokemi is accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of defrauding the agency to the tune of N2.6billion.

He was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government of 795.2million.

Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, Obilor said he was approached by NIMASA to provide vessels for the implementation of an ISPS Code project.

The dialogue went thus:

Lawyer: “Did you bid for the contract?”

Obilor: “We did not officially bid for the contract.”

Lawyer: “Did you execute the unofficial contract?”

Obilor: “The contract was not executed.”

Read also: Reinstated General: Amnesty ill-informed, Army says

According to the witness, the companies received letters of award of contracts although they did not submit any bids.

He said the monies were paid before they got confirmation that they had been awarded the contract.

“When we had the letter of award, by then the monies had been paid upfront.

“We were later approached that we should stay action, and that we should remit the money to certain companies and individuals,” he said.

Obilor said they neither issued requests for payment, nor submitted any invoices.

When he was showed a request document for the payment of a particular sum, he said: “We did not issue this document.”

The witness said he received instructions from Captain Agaba, and that they discussed verbally.

Under cross examination by Akpobolokemi’s lawyer Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Obilor said he never dealt with or met the former NIMASA boss.

“I did not meet the first defendant,” he said.

Justice Buba adjourned hearing to Friday.

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