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.
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.”
