Ex-NIMASA DG, Others in Court over Alleged Fresh N2.6bn Fraud
Former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi was recently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on a fresh 22-count-charge of alleged N2.6 billion scam.
This is as the agency has shut the Magcobar Manufacturing Limited jetty at Reclamation Road Port Harcourt and Shoreline Logistics Limited at Old NPA Port, Marina Road Calabar over failure to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code after repeated warnings to ensure compliance failed to elicit the desired result.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Akpobolokemi alongside five others including Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and two companies; Blockz and Stonez limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited for allegedly converting to private use the sum of N2.6 billion belonging to NIMASA.
EFCC had on Thursday arraigned the accused persons before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The commission in the fresh charge alleged that on or about February 2014 in Lagos, the accused persons conspired among themselves to converted the sum of N437,726,666.60 belonging to NIMASA.
The offences, according to EFCC contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).
The EFCC also accused the defendants of converting to their private use the sum of N66,800.000 property of NIMASA on January 9, 2014 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (3)of the Money Laundering Act, 2012.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons between April and August, 2014 converted to their own use, the sum of N21,802,000 and additional N53,749,000.00 respectively.
The counts read in part “that you Patrick Akpobolokemi, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonez limited, and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited on or about 4th of February, 2014 and 13th of March, 2014 in Lagos did conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversation of the sum of N402,480,000.00, property of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, which sum was derived from stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act”
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the offences when the charge was read to them.
Counsel to the first accused, Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN in his bail application dated December 2, 2015 pleaded with the court not to impose stringent bail conditions.
Nwobike submitted that the Administration of Criminal Justice law encouraged judicial officers to grant bail in liberal terms.
Counsel to other accused persons aligned themselves to Nwobike’s submissions by also urging the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously.
In his response, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oladepo told the court that he relied on court’s discretion on the request for bail but stressed the need for the verification of all documents, addresses and names presented by the accused.
Justice Buba in his short ruling, held that it was in the interest of justice to grant the accused persons bail in order for them to defend themselves.
Consequently, he granted all the accused bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.
The sureties must provide current tax certificate and must have landed property in Lagos.
The court also ordered the accused to sign an undertaking that they will not unnecessarily delay speedy hearing of the matter adding that trial will be on day to day basis.
The matter has been adjourned till December 7 for trial.
According to a statement from Hajia Lami Tumaka, Head of Public Relations in
NIMASA, the agency in its bid to ensure 100% compliance with the provisions of the code, had instituted stringent measures against defaulting facilities, having worked hard to attain its present position of over 80% compliance with the nation’s 129 facilities.
The shut facilities the statement said would remain closed until their managers corrected the identified deficiencies and pay a prescribed fine before they will be reopened for business.
It will be recalled that NIMASA had last week shut the Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited Jetty at Ibafon for non-compliance with the ISPS code.
The exercise, which is a continuous one, is with a target to achieve 100% compliance that will guarantee the security of ships and port facilities especially in a period when terrorists’ activities have been heightened.
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