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Dr Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi
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The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigeria
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.
He was
arraigned with nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu
of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Nation report continues:
They
were accused of conspiring to convert ₦3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA.
The
commission said the money “was derived from stealing”.
EFCC
said the alleged offence contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).
The
others are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain
Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Fredrick, Timi Alari and two companies
Al-Kenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.
According
to the November 20 charge, signed by Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Iseoluwa, the
accused persons converted the money between December 2013 and July 15 this year.
In count
one, the defendants allegedly “conspired among themselves to commit an offence,
to wit: conversion of ₦1,151,214,000.00,
property of NIMASA, money derived from stealing…”
EFCC
said on December 23, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted ₦861.5 million. On July
7 and 15 this year, they allegedly converted ₦235.4 million.
Akpobolokemi,
Agaba, Nwakuche and Al-Kenzo were accused of converting N60 million, which they
“derived from stealing.”
On
December 24, 2013, Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Alari, Bob-Nabena, and Grace Subai,
said to be at large, allegedly converted ₦20 million, property of NIMASA.
Akpobolokemi,
Agaba, Enisuoh, Fredrick and Peniel Engineering were accused of converting ₦138.5 million on January 3, 2014 and on March 27, 2014.
Akpobolokemi,
Agaba, Juan and Nwakuche allegedly converted ₦65 million on July 10, 2014; as well as ₦86 million and ₦80 million on the same
day.
On May
28, last year, they allegedly converted ₦65 million, and on December 19, last
year, they were accused of converting ₦65 million.
Between
July 7 and December 14, 2014, EFCC said they converted ₦261.3 million, among
other amounts in the 30-count , all of which amounted to ₦3,407,629,000.
They
pleaded not guilty to all counts.
After
taking their pleas, Akpobolokemi’s lawyer Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and other
defence counsel said they had bail applications.
Nwobike
urged the court to grant his clients bail in liberal terms.
Justice
Saidu granted Akpobolokemi bail for ₦100 million with two sureties in like sum.
One of
the sureties must be his relative and must own a landed property in the
highbrow Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island, the judge ruled.
The
second surety must be a senior civil servant not below the level of director at
the federal or state level.
The
other defendants were granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million each, with two sureties.
One of
the sureties, Justice Saidu said, must also be a relative and must own landed
property in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below Grade
Level 16.
The
judge directed the defendants to surrender their international passports. The
sureties’ addresses must be verified by the court’s deputy chief registrar, the
judge added.
Justice
Saidu ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the
perfection of their bail conditions.
He adjourned to January 29
for trial.
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