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Tag: ex-NIMASA DG

  • Ex-NIMASA DG files no-case submission in fraud case

    Ex-NIMASA DG files no-case submission in fraud case

    A former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he has no case to answer.

    Through his lawyer Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), he filed no-case submission.

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

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Nwobike described the evidence given against his client by an EFCC investigator as mere hearsay, which he said had no legal weight.

    He said Akpobolokemi could not be asked to defend the charge because no prima facie case had been established against him.

    But, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the testimonies of 12 prosecution witnesses and 77 exhibits tendered linked Akpobolokemi to the alleged fraud.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned till October 16 for ruling on the no-case submission.

  • How ex-NIMASA DG, others stole N754m, witness tells court

    How ex-NIMASA DG, others stole N754m, witness tells court

    An investigator yesterday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how a former Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Director General and five other officials stole N754 million belonging to the agency.

    Mr Chukwudi Orji of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spoke during his testimony in the ongoing trial of ex-NIMASA Director General Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others on a 13-count charge of stealing and fraud.

    Akpobolokemi’s co-defendants are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company — Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd.

    Orji told the court: “Vimsat Committee, a committee of NIMASA, opened an account in a bank, which had only two inflows.

    “On Aug. 29, 2015, N498.4 million was paid into that account by NIMASA and on May 20, 2015, N318 million was also paid into that account by NIMASA.

    “This gave the account a total inflow of N816.2 million. On Sep. 29, 2015, there was a transfer of N11 million into the account of one Lakewood Garden Ventures Ltd from the Vimsat Committee account.

    “The money was never used for research work as it was mandated to be. This money was part of the sharing formula of the defendants.”

    Orji, explaining the role of Vincent Udoye, one of the defendants in the alleged scam, said:”On March 6, 2015 N7.8 million was transferred from Vimsat account into the another account with Diamond Bank account with number -0020802815 of the fifth defendant (Udoye).

    “On June 4, 2015 he transferred N5 million from that account into another Diamond Bank account with number 006567038 which was also operated by him.

    “The N5 million transferred was fixed on the same day and was liquidated on Sep. 2, 2014 and he was paid an interest of N24,000.

    “The N5 million is still in his account as at the time the EFCC asked for his statement.

    “He also transferred N2.5million into the bank account of Adegboyega Olopoenia (the sixth defendant).”

    The N7.8 million disbursed by the defendants, Orji said, was part of funds from Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd which were originally from the account of the Vimsat Committee.

    “All these transfers were done in a bid to conceal the source of the funds,” he said.

    Throwing more light on the role of Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd in the alleged fraud, Orji said Adegboyega Olopoenia (the sixth defendant) was a signatory to the account of Gama Marine.

    According to him, N10 million was transferred to Vincent Udoye in six tranches from that account by Olopoenia, totalling N60 million.

    “It was conceived to be used under the guise of award of contract to Gama Marine but there was no contract.”

    The investigator also told the court how another company, Arrow World Consulting Ltd, was used to transfer money from NIMASA by the defendants.

    “In relation to Arrow World Consulting, the third (Ekene Nwakuche) and fourth (Governor Juan) defendants were the signatories to the account .

    “Our findings were that the accounts of Arrow World Consulting received the bulk sum from the Vimsat Committee account on Feb. 12, 2015.

    “They received N230 million and they received another N17 million from the account on May 6, 2015.

    “Nwakuche and Juan used fictitious names while operating the Arrow World Consulting account; Nwakuche operated as Philip Emesike and Juan operated as Udoh Emakop.

    “When we invited Nwakuche to our office, he confessed to be using the alias Philip Emesike saying he used the name in bank documents.

    “He explained to me and my team embers that he used to sign as Emesike and he demonstrated to us how he used to sign the signature.

    “N70 million was sent by Nwakuche into the bank account of Dorcas Nwakuche and N70 million was paid into the bank account of Kadice Oil and Gas Ltd.

    “The third and fourth defendants also made various transfers to different accounts from the Arrow World Consulting account,” he said.

    Orji told the court how the EFCC uncovered the forged documents used to carry out bank transactions by Arrow World Consulting.

    “Arrow World Consulting did not do any work for NIMASA, I personally led the team to visit the company’s  address at 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island.

    “I met the younger brother of the original owner of the company who was residing at the premises, I was told that the owner of the company had travelled out of the country.

    “Shakespeare Solicitors, the lawyers to the real owner of Arrow World Consulting, came to the EFCC office with a power of attorney and made a statement.

    “The lawyers commenced an action at the Ikeja High Court against the bank in which judgment was given in favour of the real owner of Arrow World Consulting.

    “The real owner of Arrow World was awarded N10million damages by Justice F. Bankole-Oki against the bank for opening the account without the consent of the owners — the number of that suit is LD/1872/CMW/2016,” Orji said.

    Oyedepo, the EFCC prosecutor, sought to tender as evidence, a letter written by Shakespeare Solicitors on the alleged fraud to the EFCC to which a copy of the judgment was attached.

    Mr Seni Adio (SAN), lawyer to Nwakuche, however, objected to the tendering of the letter as evidence, saying it was irrelevant to the charge of the defendants and also not part of the original proof of evidence.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, in her ruling, held that the letter was relevant to proceedings and was, therefore, admissible as evidence.

    She adjourned the case until today for continuation of trial.

     

  • Ex-NIMASA DG claims statement to EFCC was not voluntary

    Ex-NIMASA DG claims statement to EFCC was not voluntary

    A FORMER Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, yesterday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of inducing him to make a statement.
    Jauro was arraigned last April 12 along with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.
    They pleaded not guilty.
    During trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday, Jauro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, objected to the tendering of the defendant’s statement made following his arrest.
    The judge consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if the statement was obtained voluntarily.
    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Orji Chukwuma, led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said Jauro made a request for the transfer of N176 million to seven beneficiaries, including NIMASA executive directors, board members or directors.
    He said Bawa allegedly received N20 million through his bank account.
    Chukwuma said Jauro returned his own share of the money.
    He said on July 10, 2014, N20million from the Committee on Intelligence Gathering was paid into the account of Thlumbau Enterprises, a company linked to Jauro and Bawa.
    Chukwuma said that the said sum was not used for the proposed intelligence gathering but was merged with other proceeds of crime and transferred to one Helen Mbonu.
    The witness said there was also a request for the transfer of N15 million to Thumbau Enterprises.
    When prosecution counsel sought to tender Jauro’s statement, Ojo objected on the basis that the statement was not voluntarily obtained by the EFCC.
    He alleged the statement was obtained through inducement, therefore, it could not be tendered and admitted in court.
    He urged the court to order a trial-within-trial.
    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted the prayer and adjourned till February 21, March 3, 13 and 14.

  • EFCC: Ex-NIMASA DG ‘converted’ N378m

    EFCC: Ex-NIMASA DG ‘converted’ N378m

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how a former acting Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Calistus Obi, allegedly converted over N378 million to his personal use.

    Obi, a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is facing five separate charges for fraud and theft.

    Obi, Dismass Alu Adoon, Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited were arraigned on eight counts of converting N378,810,000 from NIMASA.

    At his trial yesterday, an unlicensed Bureau De Change operator, Mallam Sulaiman Oseni, said he changed $111 million for Dismass three times.

    He said he first changed N12 million, which he handed over to him at NIMASA’s office in Apapa.

    According to him, Adoon also sent N49.5 million twice which he changed to dollars and gave him at a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Oseni said because his firm was not registered, sometimes he paid the monies given to him into the account of his boss, Mallam Koloni Mohammed.

    Muhammed also testified that he changed of $350,000 USD for the accused persons through Oseni.

    He said he had no business relationship with NIMASA, adding that Oseni forwarded his account details to NIMASA through which the officials paid the monies.

    A Marketer with Heritage Banks Plc, Mr. Saidu Yussuf, said Obi was the only signatory to Global Seal Investment Limited. He said the firm received N15 million from NIMASA’s Committee of Intelligence from where it was transferred to different accounts, including Obi’s.

    A Compliance Officer at Access Bank Plc, Oliver Ewerem, also testified that Global Seal and Knight Sheriff Limited received N15 million each from the account of NIMASA’s Committee on Intelligence Gathering.

    He said the money was transferred into the account of Grand Pack Limited, while N111 million was transferred to Kostal Mega Limited’s account with First Bank Plc, an account belonging to a Bureau De Change operator.

    Trial continues today.

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

    Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    •‘N1billion allegedly converted to personal use’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi for alleged N22.7 billion fraud.

    He was charged with a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Tompolo was absent yesterday. He was also absent when his co-accused were earlier arraigned on alleged N34 billion fraud in a separate charge.

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

    Others are 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 N22.7 billion.

    Also named in the charge are Akpobolokemi’s 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 money running into over N22.7 billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

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

    Tompolo’s lead counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) sought to set aside the warrant, but the judge dismissed the application and re-issued a fresh warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.

    The judge granted EFCC’s application empowering it to seize Tompolo’s traceable assets, pending his arrest or appearance in court for arraignment.

    The property will be auctioned after three months, beginning from February 19 when the order was made, should Tompolo refuse to turn up.

    Tompolo appealed the order and prayed the appellate court to order the transfer of his case from Justice Buba.

    His lawyers urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the warrant on the basis that Justice Buba erred by refusing to nullify it.

    Tompolo asked the court to nullify sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which he said violated his rights.

    He sought an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the ACJA 2015, following their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”

    Section 221 says: “Objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the grounds of an imperfect or erroneous charge.”

    Section 306 says: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.”

    Tompolo contended that the sections were unconstitutional because they sought to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction to entertain any objection to a criminal charge and an application for a stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    The case came up for hearing yesterday before Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola. Tompolo’s lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa informed the court that Nigeria and the attorney-general of the federation were served with the originating motion.

    He  said the EFCC and the IGP declined service on the grounds that the date of hearing was too close.

    Adegboruwa applied for a short adjournment to enable the court bailiff serve the court processes on the EFCC, IGP and other respondents.

    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned till May 4 for hearing, while Justice Buba adjourned till May 30 for trial.

    Also yesterday, the Federal High Court in Lagos heard that Akpobolokemi and others allegedly converted over N1billion belonging to the agency to their personal use.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Chukwuma Orji, said the money was diverted through different companies and direct withdrawals.

    He was testifying in Akpobolokemi’s trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    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.

    They were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year. They pleaded not guilty.

    Orji said the commission received intelligence that there was “monumental fraud” perpetrated by Akpobolokemi using funds meant for a NIMASA committee on International Ship and Port Facility Security  (ISPS) Code.

    He said: “NIMASA was appointed the designated ISPS agent in Nigeria on May 23, 2013.“

    Justice Buba adjourned till April 29 for continuation of trial.

    Akpobolokemi set up a committee on ISPS chaired by Captain Agaba.

     

  • Badeh, ex-NIMASA DG quizzed in detention

    Badeh, ex-NIMASA DG quizzed in detention

    •Agency set to arraign military chief

    Former Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh yesterday went through fresh grilling in detention with a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi.

    It was learnt that Air Chief Marshal Badeh was moved from Abuja to Lagos to join Akpobolokemi in responding to questions from EFCC operatives and to go through documents with the anti-graft agency.

    It was learnt that Air Chief Marshal Badeh might face another trial in Lagos with the ex-NIMASA chief.

    A highly-placed source said: “Investigation has so far revealed that NIMASA funds were made available to the Office of the CDS and the Air Force for some aerial surveillance.

    “The said funds were disbursed under the pretext of strengthening maritime security in the coastal areas.

    “We have interrogated the two former public officers in our detention facility in Lagos. What we have done is to bring the two ex-public officers together for a face-to-face clarification of allegations against them.

    “We do not want distance to serve as a barrier to our ongoing investigation. Certainly, they have confronted each other.

    “We are doing our best now to track how the funds were disbursed and the beneficiaries. We will recover every kobo of the billions given to the Armed Forces by NIMASA.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “I think Badeh may face another trial with the ex-DG of NIMASA.”

    Akpobolokemi had been under interrogation for allegations of fraud  of about   N12, 905, 485.000 meant for a maritime university.

    Out of the sum, N11,737,854,485.00 was  allegedly  paid into a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo (a.k.a Tompolo).

    After the said money was paid, investigation further showed that N6, 000,000,000 was further moved into another account belonging to one of the associates of the indicted DG.

    Also, N816million  allegedly obtained through a presidential approval for the Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Members State Audit( VIMSAS) implementation in Nigeria, was allegedly diverted to personal use.

  • Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested over N11.7b paid to Tompolo

    Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested over N11.7b paid to Tompolo

    Security agents yesterday re-arrested a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi outside the Federal High Court premises in Lagos moments after his trial for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government was adjourned.

    Policemen and plain clothes operatives swopped on him and bundled him into a waiting bus soon after Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned trial to January 18.

    Akpobolokemi’s re-arrest is linked to fresh allegations of fraud  of about   N12, 905, 485.000 meant for a maritime university.

    Of the sum, N11,737,854,485.00 was  allegedly  paid into a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo a.k.a Tompolo. He is also said to have diverted N816 million meant for the Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Members State Audit (VIMSAS).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Akpobolokemi and three others on charges of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

    The others are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

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

    Akpobolokemi and nine others, including two companies, were earlier arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court on a separate charge of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA. They also pleaded not guilty.

    It was learnt that Akpobolokemi, dressed in white, was released from prison custody at the weekend after perfecting the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Buba.

    There was a mild drama as the operatives made to grab him as he left the courtroom. The defendant resisted the move, claiming that he was on bail.

    But the security agents, who ignored his protests, overpowered and bundled him into a waiting bus to the bemusement of onlookers.

    Effort by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), to intervene and prevent his client’s re-arrest was unsuccessful.

    Justice Buba adjourned because three of the accused persons’ lawyer, Mr. Seni Adio, said he had just been briefed. He sought more time to study the case file.

    “I don’t even have a copy of the charge; I have no document whatsoever,” Adio said.

    Agaba’s lawyer, N.O. Balogun, also sought an adjournment, saying he was also only briefed over the weekend, after the former counsel, Mr. Madu Paschal, withdrew his representation on the grounds that he was planning a burial ceremony.

    EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo urged the court to reject the applications for an adjournment in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    “This is one of the issues that this new law seeks to arrest: the law allows the court to take full control of its proceedings and not allow unnecessary delays at the instance of lawyers,” Keyamo said.

    But Justice Buba said considering new documents which the prosecution served on the defendants, and the fact that Adio deserved time to study the case file, he would adjourn.

  • EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG for alleged N3.4b theft

    EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG for alleged N3.4b theft

    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.

    They were accused of conspiring to convert N3.4 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 N1,151,214,000.00, property of NIMASA, money derived from stealing…”

    EFCC said on December 23, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N861.5 million. On July 7 and 15 this year, they allegedly converted N235.4 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 N20 million, property of NIMASA.

    Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Enisuoh, Fredrick and Peniel Engineering were accused of converting N138.5 million on January 3, 2014 and on March 27, 2014.

    Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Juan and Nwakuche allegedly converted N65 million on July 10, 2014; as well as N86 million and N80 million on the same day.

    On May 28, last year, they allegedly converted N65 million, and on December 19, last year, they were accused of converting N65 million.

    Between July 7 and December 14, 2014, EFCC said they converted N261.3 million, among other amounts in the 30-count , all of which amounted to N3,407,629,000.

    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 N100 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 N50 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.

  • EFCC quizzes ex-NIMASA DG, ex-Governor Chime’s Chief of Staff

    EFCC quizzes ex-NIMASA DG, ex-Governor Chime’s Chief of Staff

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday grilled a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi and Mrs, Ifeoma Nwobodo, who was the Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime.

    It was learnt Akpobolokemi was invited by the EFCC in connection with billions of contract awarded during his tenure.

    Sources said Akpobolokemi, who arrived at the Lagos Office of the EFCC at about 10am, was still being questioned as at press time.

    A top EFCC aide said: “We invited ex-DG of NIMASA and some top officials of the agency for award of contracts, and some projects running into billions of Naira.

    “We are also probing the Public Private Partnership agreements between NIMASA and some companies during Akpobolokemi’s tenure.

    “There were allegations on the alleged mismanagement of the domiciliary accounts of NIMASA. But all these are in the realm of allegations.

    “For logistic reasons, the interrogation is being done in Lagos for strategic reasons, especially bringing of evidence, such as the files and counter-interrogation of officials.

    “I think we may grant Akpobolokemi and other officials of NIMASA administrative bail because the investigation is really a comprehensive one.”

    An aide of Akpobolokemi said: “The ex-DG of NIMASA personally went to EFCC to honour the invitation of the commission. He was not arrested as being insinuated.

    “Also, as I speak, he has given full cooperation to the EFCC on the allegations against him. I am aware that these allegations are baseless. They arose from internal politics in NIMASA.”

    The ex-DG of NIMASA in February joined issues with the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the alleged PPP contracts.

    He said: “The PPP project has also made it possible for the agency to provide suitable platforms to the relevant security agencies collaborating with us to fight piracy and other sundry security breaches in our waters.

    “Memoranda of Understanding have been signed and are being implemented between the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force and NIMASA.”

    Meanwhile, the EFCC appeared yesterday to be closing in on ex-Governor Sullivan Chime with the invitation of his former Chief of Staff, Mrs. Nwobodo.

    The invitation of Mrs. Nwobodo was said to be the beginning of a comprehensive probe into the administration of ex-Governor Chime.

    The EFCC source said Mrs. Nwobodo arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja about 9.30am to respond to issues against her and the administration of Chime.

    The source added: “The former Chief of Staff was immediately ushered into the interrogation room to meet a team of crack detectives.

    The sundry allegations border essentially on conspiracy, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.

     Responding to a question, the source added: “I think her invitation is the beginning of some allegations against the administration of ex-Governor Chime.

    “We have so many petitions against the former governor. But since his Chief of Staff was central to the coordination of government activities, we need to hear from her first.”