The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe

  • Court fixes April 25 for trial of ex-JTF commander, others

    Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday adjourned the trial of retired Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and three others, charged with N8.5 bilion fraud, until April 25 and April 27.

    Atewe is a former military commander of the Niger-Delta Joint Task Force, “Operation Pulo Shield.”

    He is charged alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    Also charged are two other members of staff of the agency, Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.

    The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 22-count charge bordering on fraud.

    The EFCC prosecutor, Mr I. A. Mohammed, and counsel to the first and second accused — Mr Tokunbo Ajibulu, Miss Chidinma Okoronkwo — were present in court.

    Also present was Mr Mathew Buka, counsel to the third and fourth accused. The third and fourth accused were, however, absent in court.

    Buka had apologised to the court for the absence of the third and fourth accused, saying the accused persons were not aware of today’s sitting.

    The EFCC had alleged that the accused conspired and diverted N8.5 billion from “Operation Pulo Shield” between Sept. 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015, using some companies.

    The companies are Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd, Jagan Global Services Ltd, Al-Nald Ltd, Paper Warehouse Ltd, Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

    Read Also: Court fixes March 27 to hear Kiribo title’s suit

  • Fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others

    Fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos,  a former Joint Task Force (JTF) commander, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, and three others over N8.5 billion fraud.

    Atewe is charged alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and two other staff — Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.

    The accused are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on fraud.

    Their re-arraignment was a sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu from Lagos to the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High court.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plea of the accused was taken afresh before the new judge, Justice A.O Faji.

    Defence counsel urged the court to allow the accused to continue on the earlier bail granted by the previous judge.

    Based on the applications of the counsel, the judge ruled that the accused should continue on their bails.

    At the last adjourned date, the EFCC had examined a prosecution witness, Mr Adamu Yusuf, who told the court how the accused converted about N4.9 billion to dollars.

    Yusuf said the accused used different companies and accounts to launder billions of money from the account of the Joint Task Force Operation.

    The witness further testified that during the investigation, letters of request were sent to GTbank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic-IBTC Bank, as well as First City Monument Bank (FCMB) demanding the account statements of beneficiaries of the account.

    The anti-graft agency had alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using six companies, namely — Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd, Jagan Global Services Ltd, Al-Nald Ltd, Paper Warehouse Ltd,  Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

    The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the fraud between Sept. 5, 2014, and May 20, 2015, in contravention of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    The court has fixed Feb. 13 and Feb. 17 for the commencement of trial.

  • Ex-JTF commander, others‎ arraigned for N8b fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe for alleged N8 billion fraud.

    ‎Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged along with former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    ‎The charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.

    The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    ‎The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.

    ‎The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to defraud NIMASA of N8.5billion using six companies – Jagan Limited, Jagan Trading Company Limited, Jagan Global Services Limited, Al-Nald Limited, Paper Warehouse Limited,  Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited and De-Newlink Integrated Services Limited.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Defence counsel including Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to grant the defendants bail.

     

  • EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on June 3 arraign a former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, for alleged N8 billion fraud.

    Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged alongside the former Director- General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    The new charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.

    The arraignment was stalled after Akpolobokemi objected to the reading of the charge because, according to him, he was not served with the charge and proof of evidence.

    Akpolobokemi said he was not aware of the scheduled arraignment, adding that he left the hospital to attend his trial in another criminal charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    He said neither him nor his lawyer, who was absent, was notified about the arraignment.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the charge and proof of evidence were served on the accused lawyer’s firm, Dr. Joseph Nwobike & Co., which was received by one of the lawyers in the chambers.

    The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.

  • JTF commander brokers peace between firm, host community

    JTF commander brokers peace between firm, host community

    The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, has brokered peace between the Okomu Oil Palm Plantation and the Okomu Community in Edo.

    A statement yesterday in Yenagoa by the spokesman of the JTF, Lt.-Col Isa Ado,  said the two parties had been at quarelling for many years.

    The community had accused the company of neglect and environmental pollution without compensation and non-employment of Okomu citizens.

    Anka said the reconciliation of the feuding parties by the commander followed several meetings at the Headquarters of the JTF and in Okomu town.

    The statement quoted the traditional ruler of the community and the Apoi of Okomu Ijaw, Dr Biowei Yuyu, as thanking the commander for the reconciliation and promised to maintain the agreement accord reached.

    The Managing Director of Okomu Palm Company, Dr Graham Hefer, thanked Atewe for mediating in the dispute, which he said had affected the production of the company for some time.

    The statement said the commander and the traditional ruler also inaugurated a nine-member Development Council to oversee affairs between the company and the community.

    “It was agreed that the company should withdraw all pending litigations against the community immediately and put the two borehole sunk for the benefit of the community in good working condition.

    “The company also promised to provide job opportunities to qualified indigenes of the community,’’ it said.

    Anka said that the commander of the JTF also promised to sink an additional borehole to complement the two already donated by the company.