Ex-NIMASA Boss Arraigned Over Fresh Fraud Charges

A former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, was again arraigned on Friday over a scam of N2.6bn he allegedly perpetrated with six others within the agency between December 2013 and May 2015.

The fresh arraignment on Friday before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos came a day after Akpobolokemi and nine others were arraigned on a 30-count of alleged N3.4bn fraud before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court.

The separate charge brought before Buba on Friday had Akpolokemi, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited as defendants.

The seven were charged with a 22-count bordering on conspiracy, theft, advanced fee fraud and money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused them of converting to their personal use, a total of N2,658,957,666, belonging NIMASA, between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.

In the said charge, signed by Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Iseoluwa, the EFCC also alleged, among other things, that Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Nwakuche and Juan “induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795,200,000 under the false pretence that the sum represented the cost for the implementation of the International Ship and Ports Security Code in Nigeria Ports.”

This alleged offence is said to contravene  Section 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Act.

In another count, the EFCC claimed that the seven accused conspired among themselves  to convert and indeed converted N437.7m between December 23, 2013 and March 13, 2014 in Lagos.
They were also accused of converting another N525,000,000 on November 6, 2014; as well N402,480,000 between February 5, 2014 and March 13, 2014.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants violated  Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them, following which the EFCC prosecutor, Iseoluwa, applied to the court to remand them in prison pending trial, which he said the prosecution was ready for.

But the defence counsel, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), urged the court to admit the accused to bail in liberal terms.

In acceding to the bail application, Justice Buba admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of N50m with one surety each in like sum.

The judge said the surety must own a landed property in Lagos and must present evidence of current tax clearance.

He ordered the defendants to deposit their passports in the custody of the court, saying they were barred from travelling out of the country except with the permission of the court while the trial lasted.
Justice Buba said the trial would be held day to day until judgment, stressing that delay would not be tolerated.

He adjourned till Monday, December 7, 2015 for trial to commence.

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