EFCC Drags Ex-NIMASA Boss To Court

A former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, was arraigned on Thursday, December 3, 2015, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC.

Akpobolokemi was taken to court alongside seven other staff of the agency including Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Executive Director, and their two companies.

The former NIMASA DG was arraigned before Justice Salihu Sa’idu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on a 30-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and money laundering.

According to a statement issued by Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, 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.

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 (One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Three Million Naira Only) 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.”

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them, but the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison and fix a date for trial.

Justice Salihu however admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of N100,000, 000 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 of State government employment not below the rank of Director.

The other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000,000 each with one surety in like sum. One of the sureties must be in either Federal of 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.

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