The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi

  • Ex-NIMASA chief’s trial resumes March 11

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned the trial of former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi to March 11 and 12.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him along with Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisouh and a firm, Al-kenzo Ltd, on a 22-count charge of converting N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA for personal use.

    The defendants were said to have committed the alleged offence between December 2013 and July 2015.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said they breached Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions) Amendment Act, 2012.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    At the trial last week before Justice Ayokunle Faji, the court heard that NIMASA under Akpobolokemi allegedly paid N138.5 million to a company in 2014 despite not executing any contract.

    Fredrick Ugor, an engineer at NIMASA, told the court that he worked in the company before joining the agency.

    He testified in the trial of former and five others.

    They were charged with N3.4 billion fraud.

    Ugor said the funds were lodged in the company’s account by NIMASA’s Committee on Intelligence (COI) at different times in 2014.

    He said used Peniel Engineering Ltd for his services while also working as the Special Assistant to the Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker before he joined NIMASA.

    “I know Peniel Engineering Ltd. It is owned by my friend, Engineer Jolly James, while I was in Port-Harcourt.

    “It was the platform I was using for my business. The company is into maritime logistics, construction of roads and schools, etc.

    “It was not into intelligence gathering activities,” the witness said.

    He confirmed that N20 million, N35 million, N13 million, N35 million, N6 million, N22 million and N7.5 million were paid into the company’s account at different times in 2014 by COI.

    He told the court that the committee was set up by NIMASA’s management to gather intelligence aimed at stopping nefarious activities in the country.

    Ugor said he was not a member of the committee.

    “I did not know COI is in existence. I also know in the course of interrogation that the company’s account details was made available to the Committee by my Director, Captain Warredi Enisouh (fifth defendant). I gave it to him.

    “Peniel Engineering Ltd did not indulge in any intelligence gathering for NIMASA to warrant any payment into the company’s account,” he said.

  • ‘Firm was paid N138m by NIMASA for no job’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday heard that N138.5 million was paid to a company in 2014 by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) despite not executing any contract.

    Fredrick Ugor, an engineer at NIMASA, told Justice Ayokunle Faji that he worked in the company before joining the agency.

    He testified at the trial of former NIMASA Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others.

    They were charged with N3.4 billion fraud.

    Ugor said the funds were lodged in the company’s account by NIMASA’s Committee on Intelligence (COI) at different times in 2014.

    He said he used Peniel Engineering Ltd for his services while also working as the Special Assistant to the Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker before he joined NIMASA.

    “I know Peniel Engineering Ltd. It is owned by my friend, Engineer Jolly James, while I was in Port-Harcourt.

    “It was the platform I was using for my business. The company is into maritime logistics, construction of roads and schools, etc.

    “It was not into intelligence gathering activities,” the witness said.

    He confirmed that N20 million, N35 million, N13 million, N35 million, N6 million, N22 million and N7.5 million were paid into the company’s account at different times in 2014 by COI.

    He told the court that the committee was set up by NIMASA’s management to gather intelligence aimed at stopping nefarious activities in the country.

    Ugor said he was not a member of the committee.

    “I did not know COI is in existence. I also know in the course of interrogation that the company’s account details were made available to the Committee by my Director, Captain Warredi Enisouh (fifth defendant). I gave it to him.

    “Peniel Engineering Ltd did not indulge in any intelligence gathering for NIMASA to warrant any payment into the company’s account,” he said.

    Akpobolokemi was charged along with Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisouh and a firm, Al-kenzo Ltd, on a 22-count charge of converting N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA for personal use.

    The defendants were said to have committed the alleged offence between December 2013 and July 2015.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said they breached Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions) Amendment Act, 2012.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    The trial continues tomorrow.

  • Ex-NIMASA chief rented Banana Island home for N40m – EFCC

    Ex-NIMASA chief rented Banana Island home for N40m – EFCC

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday heard that a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi allegedly rented his Banana Island home for two years with N40million.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Orji Chukwuma, while testifying in Akpobolokemi’s trial, alleged that the money formed part of proceeds of crime.

    Chukwuma, who the prosecution’s 11th witness, said Akpobolokemi allegedly lived far above his means.

    He said the defendant, a former lecturer at Niger-Delta University where he earned a little above N100, 000 before he joined NIMASA, had over N154 million in his NIMASA salary account.

    Chukwuma said Akpobolokemi paid the N40 million three tranches of N12 million, N14 million and N14 million for 2013 and 2014 rent.

    The witness said the former NIMASA chief also paid N38.5 million to Vision Motors for a Toyota Landcruiser Bullet Proof Jeep.

    He said Akpolobokemi paid the money in five tranches between November 11, 2011 and June 19, 2013, in addition to a cash payment of N10 million which he said was above the threshold.

    Akpobolokemi was charged along with a former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development at NIMASA, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them of converting N2, 658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year. They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned until November 26 and 29 for continuation of trial.

  • Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, for alleged N22.7billion fraud.

    He was charged along with a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos in Lagos.

    However, Tompolo was absent in court on Monday.

    He was also absent when his co-accused persons were earlier arraigned on alleged N34billion fraud in a separate charge.

    Those arraigned on Monday included Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa, Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited and Wabod Global Resources Limited.

    Others were Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

    The charge borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N22.7billion.

    Also named in the charge were Akpobolokemi four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large. They were said to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

    The defendants were accused of converting various sums running into over N22.7billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

    Justice Buba had on February 8 directed security agencies to arrest Tompolo and held that the warrant of arrest issued for his arrest still subsists.