Ex-NIMASA DG arraigned for ‘N1.153bn scam’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday 2015 arraigned Patrick Akpobolokemi, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) before Salihu Sa’idu, justice of the federal high court, Lagos, on a 30-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and money laundering.

Also arraigned were seven staff of the agency, including Eziekiel Agaba, executive director, and their two companies

Others are Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.

“The accused persons allegedly conspired to convert and launder several sums of money running into billions of naira under the guise of providing security intelligence around the maritime domain,” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said in a statement.

“A committee on intelligence was established by the agency under the watch of Apobolokemi with the second accused person, Captain Agaba as chairman. The committee allegedly received a total sum of N1, 153,000,000 between December 2013 to July 2015.

“In disbursing the sum, the accused persons allegedly conspired and hired companies, which investigation revealed were neither registered nor have requisite capacity to provide such services.”

He said that investigation further revealed that most of the companies contracted were either nominated by the accused persons or were directly owned by them.

One of the counts read: “That you Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick,  Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited on or about 20th of December 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit; conversion of the sum N1,153,000,000 property of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency which sum was derived from stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18a of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment)  Act 2012 and punishable under section 15  (3) of the same Act.”

Uwujaren added: “After listening to the charge, the accused persons pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison and fix a date for trial.

“Counsels representing the accused persons: Joseph Nwobike (SAN) for the first and forth accused persons, Lanre Olayinka for the second and ninth accused persons, Pascal Made for the third accused person, C.A Nmarkwe for the fifth accused, Kayode Omoya for the eighth accused, Ige Asemundara for the sixth accused and E.O Ogbebor for the seventh and tenth accused persons filed bail applications praying the court to admit their clients to bail.

“In opposing the bail application for the first accused person, Oyedepo filed a counter affidavit praying the court not to grant the defendant’s application. He argued that the first defendant had jumped the administrative bail granted to him by the Commission. He further added that someone who could not honor administrative bail should not be trusted to honour bail granted by the court.

“Oyedepo also told the court to refuse the bail applications of all the other accused persons based on the severity of the proof of evidence before it.

“Justice Salihu however admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of N100m and two sureties. One of the sureties must have a landed property in either  Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island. The other surety must be in either federal or state government employment not below the rank of director.

“The other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50m each with one surety in like sum. One of the sureties must be in either federal or state government employment not below level 16 and the other must have a landed property within Lagos.

“Justice Salihu adjourned the case to January 29, 2016 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending perfection of their bail terms.”