The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekene Nwakuche

  • ‘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.

  • N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, overruled a no case submission by former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), Patrick Akpobolokemi, charged with N2.6 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) had on Dec. 4, 2015, arraigned Akpobolokemi alongside five others, for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013 and May 2015.

    EFCC claimed the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    Also charged along with Akpobolokemi are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges pressed against them.
    The prosecution had then opened its case and during trial, called a total of 12 witnesses and tendered 77 exhibits in a bid to establish its case.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the accused, through their lawyers, filed no-case submissions, contending that the prosecution failed to established a prima facie case against them to warrant their entering any defence.

    They had urged the court to uphold the no case submission and discharge the accused.

    Delivering his ruling on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba noted that a plethora of cases had been cited by learned counsel in arguing their application for a no case submission.

    Buba, however, pointed out that in delivering ruling on such no case submission the court is enjoined to keep its ruling as short as possible.

    He said:“There are a plethora of cases listed by counsel, but the court is enjoined not to write its ruling as if it is writing its final judgment, but must keep its ruling as short as possible”.

    Buba held that the charge was before the court and its ingredients are clear.

    “The court therefore, cannot see the fuse in the argument that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants.

    “When a judge is faced with a ruling on a no case submission, it is permissible for the ruling to be brief and simply read: “you have a case to answer.

    “Consequently, the no case submission fails and is hereby overruled”.

    The court therefore, adjourned the case to Oct. 30, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 for the defence to open its case.

    Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission, his lawyer, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), had contended that the EFCC failed to link his client with the alleged diversion of funds from NIMASA.

    He added that his signature to such effect was never shown to the court, as such the first accused could not be held liable because he did not approve the security project and money disbursed.

    Nwobike had also described the evidence given against the accused by prosecution witness, as mere hearsay with no legal weight.

    He, had therefore, urged the court to come to the conclusion, that the first accused cannot be called upon to enter any defence, because no prima facie case had been established against him.

    Other defence counsels had also made their arguments on their no case submission.

    In response, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses and 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi to the alleged fraud.

    He had argued that being the head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, Akpobolokemi could not by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.

    The prosecutor had further argued that even if it was the former president that approved the security project, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA at the time, and constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved its funds.

    He further submitted that the prosecution had established that, rather than its intended purpose, the funds were illegally converted to the personal use of the accused.

    In the 22 count charges, the EFCC alleged that the accused induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795 million under false pretence and that the sum represented the cost for the implementation of the Security Code in Nigeria.

    The alleged offence contravened the provisions of Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    NAN

  • Akpobolokemi, others stole N754m with forged documents – EFCC witness

    Akpobolokemi, others stole N754m with forged documents – EFCC witness

    The Lagos High Court, Ikeja, heard on Tuesday how the former Director -General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),  Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others  forged company documents to steal N754million from the agency.

    An investigating officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Chukwuma Orji, disclosed this while being led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, before Justice Raliat Adeniyi.

    Akpobolokemi’s co-defendants are – Ezekiel Agaba, a former Executive Director of NIMASA, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company — Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

    Orji said the documents of a consulting firm, Arrow World Consulting, were forged.

    He said the real owner of the consulting company had unsuccessfully bidded for a NIMASA contract in the past.

    Oyedepo had alleged that Akpobolokemi and other accused persons used the company name to facilitate the NIMASA fraud.

    The witness said Arrow World Consulting is located at 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He said in the forged document, the company address was given as Plot 6, Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

    “The account of Arrow World Consulting was opened in Zenith Bank using forged documents, the number of the account is 1014150798,” he stated.

    The witness said Arrow World Consulting never carried out any consultation services for NIMASA, adding that the funds were paid into the account operated by Nwakuche and Juan in connivance with Agaba.

    Orji added: “N257million was transferred into the account of Arrow World from the Vimsat Committee account of NIMASA.

    “The funds were paid into the account in conspiracy with Akpobolokemi, the Director-General and Agaba the Executive Director of NIMASA.

    “There was a NIMASA memo dated May 5, 2015 signed by Agaba, authorising the payment of the N257million into the account. The instructions were given to the Bar Beach branch of Zenith Bank.

    “The documents including a letter listing Arrow World’s address at Plot 6 Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos, and signed on behalf of Agaba, by Juan were all forged.”

     

     

  • Akpobolokemi: NIMASA employees’ statements to EFCC voluntary – Court

    Akpobolokemi: NIMASA employees’ statements to EFCC voluntary – Court

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Friday ruled that statements of two ex-employees of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) — Ezekiel Agaba and Ekene Nwakuche — to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were voluntary.

    Agaba, a former Executive Director of NIMASA and Nwakuche, a Personal Assistant, had alleged that their statements to EFCC were made under duress and therefore inadmissible.

    They alleged that an EFCC investigator, Orji Chukwuma, had coerced them into writing incriminating statements during interrogation at the Commission’s office.

    Agaba and Nwakuche are arraigned alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of NIMASA and four others on a 13-count charge of conspiracy to steal, fraud and stealing of N754 million belonging to NIMASA.

    The others are Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company — Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

    They all denied the charges.

    The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had objected to the defence counsel, Mr E.D. Onyeke’s submission that the statements were in their original form and relevant to the facts of the case.

    NAN

     

     

  • Alleged fraud: Ex-NIMASA boss, six others remanded in prison

    Alleged fraud: Ex-NIMASA boss, six others remanded in prison

    Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Monday remanded a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and six other staff of the agency in Ikoyi prison.

    They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N754, 740,680.00 belonging to NIMASA.

    Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Capt. Adegboyega Sahib Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

    The 1st to 5th defendants (Akpobolokemi, Capt. Agaba, Nwakuche, Juan and Udoye) were alleged to have between October 30, 2014 and May 6, 2015 converted to their personal use N346, 844,680.00 property of NIMASA released to them for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

    They were also alleged to have on or about May 28, 2015 with a dishonest intent converted to their own use the sum of N257, 000,000.00 released for the implementation of VIMSAS.

    The defendants were alleged to have with intent to defraud knowingly forged a document titled “Re: Request for payment as consultant for VIMSAS Administration Services,” dated May 25, 2015, purported to have been issued by Aroward Consulting Limited.

    The offences were said to be contrary to Section 409 and punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.

  • EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others over N3.4b theft

    EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others over N3.4b theft

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    He was arraigned along with nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They were accused of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA.

    The commission said the sum “was derived from stealing.”

    EFCC said the alleged offence contravenes 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, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Fredrick, Timi Alari and two companies Al-Kenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.

    According to the charge dated November 20, signed by Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Iseoluwa, the accused persons converted the sums 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 the sum of ‎N1,151,214,000.00, property of NIMASA, which sum was derived from stealing.”

    EFCC said on December 23, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N861.5million. On July 7 and 15 this year, they allegedly converted N235.4million.

    Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Nwakuche and Al-Kenzo were accused of converting N60million which they “derived from stealing.”