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Tag: EFCC

  • Tarfa to compensate EFCC, Falana after withdrawing N5bn suit

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday asked a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rickey Tarfa, to pay punitive cost of N10, 000 each to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) for withdrawing a suit filed against them.

    Tarfa had filed the fresh suit over an alleged unauthorised access to his mobile phones.

    He demanded N5billion for the alleged violation of his right to privacy.

    Tarfa, who also joined EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu and a foreigner, Mrs. Rashidatou Abdou, will pay N50, 000 to the respondents.

    It was the second fundamental rights suit Tarfa would file since his arrest for alleged obstruction of justice.

    A lawyer from his chambers, O. Oladele, moved an ex parte application which sought to discontinue the case.

    Tarfa gave no reason for withdrawing the action.

    EFCC lawyers, Mr. Wahab Shittu and Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the suit’s withdrawal.

    They, however, urged the court to award punitive cost against Tarfa.

    “We have no objection to the discontinuance of the suit but we want the court to award a punitive cost against the applicant. Our names have been flying around in the major newspapers since yesterday,” Shittu said.

    Oladele argued that the respondents had no right of reply because his application was an ex-parte one.

    Besides, he said Tarfa did not serve the respondents with the suit, therefore they did not suffer any inconvenience or incur expenses to warrant financial compensation.

  • EFCC: N676m Immigration jobs cash blown on houses

    EFCC: N676m Immigration jobs cash blown on houses

    Ex-Minister Abba Moro, four others to face trial for alleged 419

    SOME OF THE CHARGES

    • Conspiracy to induce 676,675 applicants to deliver N676,675,000 under false pretence
    • Collection of N676,675,000 under false pretence purportedly for online recruitment e-payment
    • Award of contract to Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd without advertisement of the contract
    • Award of contract without Needs Assessment and Procurement plan
    • Award of contract through selective tendering process without approval by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)
    • Obtaining N676,675,000 to buy a property, No 1 Lahn Crescent Maitama, Abuja
    • Converting N120,100,000 to upgrade No 2, Sigure Close, off Monrovia Street, Wuse II, Abuja

    WHERE is the N676.6 million collected in 2014 from Immigration Service job seekers?

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes the cash was splashed on choice property. Former Interior Minister Abba Moro and four others are to stand trial for allegedly collecting fraudulently N676.6million from 676,675 job seekers.

    The EFCC said N202,500,000 was spent on buying No. 1, Lahn Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and N120, 100,000 was lavished on the upgrade of No.2, Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II Abuja.

    The commission said the recruitment firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and  Mahmood Ahmadu converted N101, 200,000  to US dollars for personal use.

    Nineteen applicants died and scores  got injured in stampede in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Minna in March 2014 during the ill-fated recruitment.

    The EFCC made the startling revelations in the 11 charges preferred against Moro and  four other accused persons yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The others are a former Permanent Secretary, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, F. O. Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

    Ahmadu, who is described as being central to the scandal, is said to be on the run.

    According to an EFCC source, “the charges have been served on all the accused persons in preparation for their arraignment in court.

    “We are waiting for the court to give us a date for their arraignment but they are in our custody,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.

    All the accused persons, including Moro,  will face trial for Advance Fee Fraud (otherwise known as 419), violation of Public Procurement Act No. 65 of 2007, misconduct, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission Act 2000 and offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011.

    The charges are as follows:

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia,  F.O Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu (at large) and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd on or about the 17th of March 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud conspired to induce a total number of 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to deliver property to wit: cumulative sum of N676,675,000 which sum represents the sum of N1,000 per applicant under the false pretence that the money represents payment for their online recruitment exercise into Nigerian Immigration Service and which pretence you knew was false, contrary to Section 8 and 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences

    Act, No. 14 of 2006

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia,  F.O Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu ( at large) and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd on or about the 17th of March 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud conspired to induce a total number of 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to deliver property to wit: cumulative sum of N676,675,000 which sum represents the sum of N1,000 per applicant under the false pretence that that you have followed the necessary procedure and that the money represents epayment for their online recruitment exercise into Nigerian Immigration Service and which pretence and you knew was false, contrary to Section 8 and 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and  F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited without advertising the contract contrary to Section 45 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007.

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and  F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited without Needs Assessment and Procurement Plan, contract contrary to Section 16(1) (b) and Section 18 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and  F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited to develop recruitment portal through selective tendering process by inviting four(4) firms without seeking approval of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) contrary to sections 40, 42 and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and  F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and signed by unregistered Drexel Tech Global Nigeria Limited when you knew that Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited was not responsive to mandatory prequalification contrary to sections 50(5) and 51  of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

    “That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and  F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court  did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and signed by unregistered Drexel Tech Global Nigeria Limited when you knew that there was no budgetary provision for the exercise in the 2014 Federal  Capital Budget and transferring responsibility to fund the project to applicants through mandatory payment of N1,000 without approval of the Board, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Act 2000.

    “That you  Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N202,500,000 part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to buy property No. 1, Lahn Crescent Maitama, Abuja with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the said sum, knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    “That you  Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N120, 100,000 being part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to upgrade property No.2 Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II Abuja  with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the said sum knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    “That you  Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N101,  200,000 being part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to United States dollars for your personal use knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act. “

  • EFCC to amend charges against ex-PDP BoT chair, son over fresh N300m discovery

    EFCC to amend charges against ex-PDP BoT chair, son over fresh N300m discovery

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to amend the four-count charge on which former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello and his son, Abba Bello, are being tried.

    This followed the discovery of a separate N300 million lodgment in their company’s account.

    Bello, his son, Abba and their firm – BAM Project and Property Limited – were on January 5, this year, arraigned on the four-count charge of money laundering involving N300 million security fund, which they allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    At the continuation of proceedings yesterday, a prosecution witness, Rouqayyat Ibrahim, resumed her testimony and disclosed that investigation has further revealed that Bello received another N300 million from the ONSA in two tranches of N150 million each.

    She said the two N150 million transactions, which were said to have been carried out on the same day on February 27, 2015, were not captured in the four counts pending against the accused persons.

    Led in evidence by prosecution witness, Rotimi  Jacobs (SAN), Ibrahim said the newly discovered N300 million was transferred to BAM Project and Properties Limited  from the account of Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited on the instruction of the then Minister for State for Finance,  Bashir Yuguda.

    She said before the discovery of the N300 million payment, Jabbamer was already being investigated for about N1.5 billion it had received from the ONSA.

    ”The analysis of the statement of account of BAM Project with Sterling Bank revealed that the account received a total of N300 million in two tranches of N150 million each on February 27, 2015. On that day (February 27, 2015), transfers of N150 million and another N150 million were made into the account of BAM Projects with Sterling Bank.

    “Before then, we already investigated Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited in a different matter. We discovered that Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited was a bureau de change firm and that the company received payments of a little over N1.5 billion from the ONSA. The company also received payments from the Nigerian Air Force and the Accountant General of the Federation’s office and several other sources.

    “We interviewed the owner of the company and account and he stated that all the deposits I mentioned earlier (into Jabbamer Ada) were made on the instructions of the former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and that the disbursement of the funds were on his (Bashir Yuguda’s) instructions, including the transfer of N300 million which he made to BAM was on Bashir Yuguda’s instruction.

    “He (Yuguda) is currently standing trial in court in respect of the same matter. Effectively, the complaint against the defendants is with respect to N600 million. They (the defendants) said they used it for PDP 2015 election,” the witness said.

    The prosecution tendered, through the witness, documents relating to transactions in the account of the ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other documents.

    The trial resumes on March 3 when the defence would be expected to cross-examine the witness.

  • N43b fraud: EFCC, AGF can’t agree on who to prosecute

    N43b fraud: EFCC, AGF can’t agree on who to prosecute

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation  and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to decide which office will prosecute 16 suspects accused of fraud at the Consolidated Discount House Limited.

    Their arraignment was stalled following a disagreement between lawyers representing the AGF and EFCC on who should prosecute the case.

    Three separates charges were filed against the suspects. Defendants in the first charge are Stephen Akinretoye, Peter Ololo and Falcon Securities Limited.

    The second charge has Akinretoye, Mudashiru Shittu, Olawale Omisore, Captain Eddy Ndoms, Aquatic Transport Limited, Cross Oceans Limited and Ehco Ventures Limited as defendants.

    In the third charge, Akinretoye, Shittu, Larai Claude-Eninn, Hassan Gbenga, Ajibola Jolaosho, Omisore Olawale, Omisope Johnson, Onimole Adebawale and Emmanuel Odedina are the accused.

    In the first charge, the complainant, the Federal Government, alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2007, the accused conspired to defraud Consolidated Discount Limited by granting loans to Falcon Securities Limited, a company owned by Ololo, without proper documentation.

    The prosecution said they allegedly converted N43.9 billion, funds belonging to Consolidated Discount, in contravention of Section 15 (2) and 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012.

    In the second charge, Akinterotoye and others allegedly defrauded the company in the guise of granting loans to the fourth to seventh defendants and converted N520 milion, N303 million and N600 million.

    The prosecution said investigations showed that Consolidated Discount paid for vessels before the dates of the applications for loan made by the fourth to seventh accused.

    In the third charge, the prosecution said the defendants, as employees of Consolidated Discount, committed fraud by converting its N915.7 million.

    Shittu (as managing director) and Gbenga (as financial controller), between March 2012 and June 2013, allegedly transferred N1.6 billion from Consolidated Discount’s Union Bank Plc account: 0033295449, to companies belonging to them.

    A lawyer from EFCC, A. B. Ozioko, who brought the suspects to court from the commission’s custody, announced appearance for the prosecution, saying the matter was for arraignment.

    But another lawyer, D. C. Enwelum, also announced appearance for the prosecution. He said he was authorised by a fiat by the AGF to prosecute the case.

    Justice Idris said the issue of who has the authority to prosecute the suspects must be sorted out before they are arraigned.

    Ozioko applied that the suspects be remanded in EFCC custody to guarantee their attendance in court at the next date.

    “We apply that they be kept in EFCC custody. That is the only way we can guarantee their production,” he said.

    But defence counsel, including Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), said the suspects were on administrative bail.

    According to them, their clients always reported at EFCC whenever asked and were only detained when they responded to EFCC’s summons on Monday.

    Justice Idris ordered that parties maintain the status quo ante bellum, which he explained to mean that they continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted them before the charge was filed and served on them.

    He adjourned the three cases to March 3 for arraignment.

  • Jonathan not a necessary party in Metuh’s trial, says EFCC

    Jonathan not a necessary party in Metuh’s trial, says EFCC

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it can effectively prosecute the trial of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) spokesman Olisa Metuh without involving former President Goodluck Jonathan in the case.

    EFCC’s position was in reaction to Metuh’s argument that since Jonathan was allegedly involved in the process leading to the payment of funds for his presidential campaign from the N400 million he (Metuh) was said to have received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), he (Jonathan) was a necessary witness in the case.

    Metuh and his company Destra Investment Limited are being tried before the Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly receiving N400 million from the office of the NSA for security services, which he allegedly diverted to fund his party’s activities.

    They are also accused of flouting the money laundering Act by making $2 million suspicious investment.

    At the conclusion of the prosecution’s witness, Metuh opted to make a no-case submission, which he filed in court last week. He argued among others, that the prosecution has failed to make out a prima facie case against him by not inviting Jonathan as its witness.

    It is Metuh’s contention that because a prosecution witness – Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is the managing director of a Lagos-based public relations firm, CMC Connect, had testified that he made a presentation before Jonathan before his (Badejo-Okusanya’s) company was paid from the N400 millionMetuh is accused of diverting, Jonathan was a vital prosecution witness.

    Metuh, represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), accused the prosecution of withholding evidence by not calling Jonathan.

    He contended that the former President, to whom the presentation, and for who the payment was made, was therefore, a material and indispensable person in order for a prima facie case to be established against him.

    The EFCC, in its response to Metuh’s no-case submission, argued that it has conveniently made out a case against Metuh for which the court should direct him to enter defence.

    It argued that Jonathan was not a necessary prosecution witness as it has effectively established its case with the number of witnesses it had called.

    EFCC urged the court to dismiss Metuh’s no-case argument.

    “In response to the above argument my lord, we submit that nothing can be farther from the truth. The defence cannot pick and chose witnesses for the prosecution and as rightly pointed out by the defence, the prosecution is not required to call a host of witnesses or a particular witness in proof of its case.

    “What the law requires the prosecution to do is to call material witness (es) in proof of its case,” it said.

    The EFCC, in its response by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus  Tahir, urged the court to direct the defendants to give explanation to “the overwhelming oral and documentary evidence placed before the court by the prosecution”.

    It argued that “prima facie case of money laundering has been established” against the defendants.

    The prosecution said it has led sufficient evidence to prove its case against the defendants.

    It cited the issue relating to the defendants making cash transactions of $2 million, which is far above the statutory threshold of N5 million for individuals and N10 million for corporate bodies, the anti-graft agencies alleged that the accused violated section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

    “The points to note in this transaction are the following which are vital: The origin of the initial sum of $2 million, which belong to either of the defendants remained undocumented (which goes against the very essence of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act i.e, financing terrorism and disguising, concealment or laundering the origin of illicit funds.”

    “All the above points my lord, goes to show the length to which the defendants went to conceal the origin of the $2 million. The count however, hinges on carrying out the transaction above the threshold of N5 million for an individual or N10 million or its equivalence by a corporate body,” it said.

    On the allegation that Metuh transferred N21,776,000 to a former Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Anthony Anenih, the EFCC argued that “to prove this count, the prosecution led evidence through PW8 and through Exhibit D1 attachments thereto to show that the defendants did transfer the sum of N21,776,000 to Chief Anthony Anenih, a notable PDP chief.

    “This raises a prima facie case as alleged in the charge, which the defendants must by evidence in their rebuttal. In the absence of which the court has no choice but to act on the available evidence led by the prosecution,” it said.

    Parties are to adopt their written arguments in the no-case submission on Thursday.

  • EFCC to amend Bello’s charges after fresh discovery

    EFCC to amend Bello’s charges after fresh discovery

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to amend a four-count charge on which a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son, Abba, are currently being tried after discovering a separate N300 million lodgment in their company’s account.

    Bello, his son, and their firm – BAM Project and Property Limited were arraigned on charges of money laundering relating to the N300 million they allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    At the continuation of proceedings on Tuesday, a prosecution witness, Rouqayyat Ibrahim, resumed her testimony and disclosed that investigation has further revealed that Bello received another N300 million from ONSA in two tranches of N150 million each.

    She said the two transactions which were allegedly carried out on February 27, 2015 were not captured in the four charges filed against the accused persons.

    Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi  Jacobs (SAN), Ibrahim said the newly discovered N300 million was transferred to BAM Project and Properties Limited  from the account of Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited on the instruction of the then Minister for State for Finance,  Bashir Yuguda.

    She said before the discovery of the N300 million payment, Jabbamer was under investigation for receiving N1.5 billion from ONSA.

    “The analysis of the statement of account of BAM Project with Sterling Bank revealed that the account received a total of N300 million in two tranches of N150 million each on February 27, 2015. On that day (February 27, 2015), transfers of N150 million and another N150 million were made into the account of BAM Projects with Sterling Bank.

    “Before then, we already investigated Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited on a different matter. We discovered that Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited was a bureau de change firm and that the company received payments of a little over N1.5 billion from ONSA. The company also received payments from the Nigerian Air Force and the Accountant General of the Federation’s office and several other sources,” she stated.

     

  • Halliburton scandal: EFCC grills another SAN

    Halliburton scandal: EFCC grills another SAN

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled a senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla, on his role and that of four others in negotiating plea bargain for companies indicted in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

    The other affected lawyers are – a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), J. B. Daudu (SAN);  Damian D. Dodo(SAN); E.C. Ukala(SAN); and Roland Ewubare.

    The anti- graft agency had been tracing the whereabouts of the $200million (N66billion) penalty fines paid by five companies involved in the scandal.

    The breakdown of the remittances by the five companies was as follows – Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti($30m); Halliburton Energy Services($32,500,000); and Japan Gasoline Corporation($26, 500,000).

    Also, the anti-graft agency may ask the lawyers who handled the settlement agreement to account for about $12million (N3.960billion) collected as “legal fees.”

    Investigation revealed that Obla was invited for allegedly coordinating settlement terms and agreement with Siemens.

     

  • Jonathan not needed in Metuh’s trial – EFCC

    Jonathan not needed in Metuh’s trial – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) on Tuesday said it could effectively prosecute the trial of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh, without involving former President Goodluck Jonathan in the case.

    EFCC’s position followed Metuh’s argument that since Jonathan was allegedly involved in the process leading to the payment of funds for his presidential campaign, the ex-president is a necessary witness in the case.

    Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are being tried before the Federal High court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving N400m from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for security services, which he allegedly diverted to fund his party’s activities.

    They are also accused of flouting the money laundering Act by making $2m suspicious investment.

    At the conclusion of the prosecution’s witness last week, Metuh filed a no-case submission in court.

    In the application, he argued among others, that the prosecution has failed to make out a prima facie case against him by not inviting Jonathan as its witness.

    The EFCC in its response argued that it had conveniently made out a case against Metuh for which the court should direct him to enter defence.

    The commission argued that Jonathan is not a necessary prosecution witness, saying it has effectively established its case with the number of witnesses invited to testify in court.

    It urged the court to dismiss Metuh’s no-case argument.

     

  • FG files charges against Moro, three others

    FG files charges against Moro, three others

    The Federal Government on Tuesday took further steps in the planned prosecution of former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, when it filed charges against him and three others before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Also named in the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/42/2016 – are the ministry’s ex-Permanent Secretary, Anastasia M. Daniel-Nwaobia, F. A. Aleyebami and Drexel Global Technology Limited.

    The charges were filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and endorsed by a director in the commission’s Legal Department, Aliyu Yusuf.

    Moro and others are charged with money laundering, obtaining under false pretext by allegedly inducing applicants in the botched Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise of 2014 to part with N1,000 each.

    They were also accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act with the manner they went about the recruitment contract allegedly awarded to Drexel.

  • I got NIMASA contract without bidding – Witness

    I got NIMASA contract without bidding – Witness

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) allegedly awarded a contract to a businessman, Uche Emenalo, for the provision of security-related services even though he has no experience in security matters, the Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Tuesday.

    Testifying in the trial of a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Emenalo said he did not bid for the contract.

    According to him, he never submitted any applications to any tenders board for the job

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Akpobolokemi with converting N2.6billion and defrauding the Federal Government of N795.2million.

    He was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    In the 22-count charge, they were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year.  The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Emenalo said he got N600, 000 out of the money, which he used for “logistics”, including travelling from Owerri, Imo State capital, to Lagos.

    Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said he got the contract through Nwakuche, who was his classmate at the university.

    According to him, when he first heard that his friend had secured a job at NIMASA, he told him to remember him whenever there was a job to be executed.

    Emenalo said in 2014, Nwakuche called and asked him to send his company’s name and account details.

    The witness said since he had no registered company, he forwarded details of his brother’s agro-allied services company, O2 Services Plus Limited, to Nwakuche.

    Emenalo said Nwakuche informed him that the contract was security-related, following which funds were paid into its account.

    He said Nwakuche asked him to wait for further directives on how the money would be disbursed.