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Tag: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

  • 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.

  • Akpobolokemi, others stole N1.5b from NIMASA intelligence committee – EFCC

    Akpobolokemi, others stole N1.5b from NIMASA intelligence committee – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and nine others converted N1.5 billion from the agency’s intelligence committee.

    Prosecution witness, Mr. Kanu Idagu, Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos, that the defendants set up several committees through which they allegedly laundered billions of Naira.

    The defendants are standing trial on a 40-count charge bordering on conversion to their personal uses, of over N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA.

    The second to seventh defendants are Captain Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

    Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd.

    They were alleged to have committed the offences between December 2013 and July 2015.

    According to the EFCC, the offences contravened Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012.

    The defendants are on bail after pleading not guilty to the charge.

    At the resumption of trial yesterday, Idagu introduced himself as head of an EFCC Special Task Force which co-ordinates investigations and carries out searches and arrest.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, he said the commission received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, against some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was D-G.

    His team, Idagu added, investigated the allegations and found that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through firms and Bureau de Changes.

    He specified that a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second defendant (Agaba), with an Access Bank account number 0688939609 opened for the receipt of monies.

    “Between December 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into 1.5 billion.

    “The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the director of finance and accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence based security activities.

    “The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA staffs for their personal use,” Idagu said

    According to the witness, one of such companies was Aler Integrated services Ltd, whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

    He added: “Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change company which the second defendant instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into.

    “The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.

    “The second defendant also made a claim of a business contract between NIMASA and one Kofa Fada Ltd, with the sum of N26 million transferred to the company’s account, while the dollar equivalent was handed to him.

    “The second defendant also transferred the sum of N86 million to one Usseinian Ltd and the dollar equivalent transferred to him.”

    The witness identified the third defendant (Nwakuche) who was personal assistant to the second defendant, as the person responsible for coordinating accounts for the purpose of diverting money.

    He said that the third defendant formulated an Enterprise Bank account in the name of Adams CDA Global Services, belonging to one of his friends, into which he transferred the sum of N120 million.

    He claimed that the dollar equivalent was handed over to the second defendant.

    The witness alleged that the third defendant also nominated an Access Bank account for Gidoga Investment Ltd, into which the sum of N65 million was transferred.

    He said that in all, a total of N422, 680 million was directly transferred to the second defendant, who claimed that same was remitted to the first defendant.

    After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him present documentary evidence.

    Justice Saliu Saidu upheld his application and adjourned till December 15 and 19 for continuation of trial.

  • Navy arrests two suspects, vessel for alleged illegality

    Navy arrests two suspects, vessel for alleged illegality

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) Friday handed over two suspects and a vessel, MT REDEEMER to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for lack of proper documentation.

    The suspects were arrested on August 28, last year by naval operatives on suspicion of carrying out illegal activity but at the end of investigation, the NN said nothing incriminating was found on them.

    According to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commordore Abraham Adaji said the suspects, Ale John, 41 and Alex Adeleye, 33, were left onboard the vessel since last year to allow for proper investigation, adding that they were being handed over to NIMASA for further investigation.

    “At the initial stage, it was discovered that the vessel was not containing petroleum products illegally refined as was suspected. But in the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the vessel did not have a valid registration for being in Nigerian waters.

    “This is contrary to the laws of Nigeria and all efforts to get to the owner to complete the registration formalities and to take possession of the vessel had proved abortive. The owner has been evading the navy, instead of bringing the valid documents to be in Nigerian waters, he kept away.

    “In this circumstance, we are left with no choice than to hand it over to the appropriate government agency.

    “The appropriate agency that has the responsibility for proper disposal of the vessel in recognition of their responsibility for port control and marine safety and security is NIMASA and so we have handed over to them,” he said.

    Continuing, Adaji said the vessel constituted serious threat, not only to maritime safety but also to security of the Nigerian Port and the waterways.

    In his remark, NIMASA’s Director of Safety, Femowei Abel, said the agency would do the needful and get to the root of the matter.

    “Wherever we can get the owner of the vessel to compel him to do the necessary documentation, we will do that. We will also carry out the relevant surveys and see whether the vessel is worthy to be registered to operate in Nigerian waters.

    “If the owner refuses to show up, we will be in possession of the vessel and put up a marine notice giving him an ultimatum to appear before NIMASA to take over possession of the vessel and do what is necessary,” he said.

    The suspects, who claimed they were involved in legitimate business, stated that they usually buy petroleum product in Warri and sell in Lagos.

    They claimed that since their arrest, the owner has not contacted them, adding that the Captain, Owolabi who escaped arrest has also not been in touch.

  • ‘NIMASA committed to implementation of Cabotage Act’

    ‘NIMASA committed to implementation of Cabotage Act’

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said that the agency is determined to ensure that the Cabotage Act is implemented to the letter.

    This is contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Monday in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cabotage Act is also known as the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003.

    According to the statement, the director-general said this when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association led by the National President, Mr Matthew Alalade at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

    Peterside said that proper regulation of the Cabotage Act was instrumental to the development of the maritime sector, adding that Nigerians must always be encouraged to be key players in the sector.

    He said that the issue of abuse of waivers would be checked.

    “We have not realised the full potential of the Cabotage Act but we have moved a step ahead.

    “Just to be sure that we are committed to the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, issues relating to waiver abuse are currently being dealt with accordingly,’’ NAN quotes the director-general as saying.

    Peterside also said that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would only be disbursed to people that would put it into the use for which it is intended.

    He said that applicants must have the requisite criteria as beneficiaries.

    “We will rigorously screen the applicants of the CVFF in order to ensure that the funds are disbursed to people who would use it for the purposes the funds are meant for,’’ the director-general added.

    Peterside said the agency “is currently screening maritime institutions across the country and would only accredit the ones that can provide the maritime training required in line with global best practices.’’

    He, however, noted that NIMASA was not in a position to recognise any Merchant Navy Association as that function fell under the purview of the National Assembly.

    Earlier, the association decried the abuse of waivers in the implementation of the Cabotage Act.

    It requested the management of NIMASA to find ways of reviewing the Act to pave the way for indigenous operators to be more involved in coastal and inland trade in Nigeria.

    The association also sought greater collaboration with NIMASA, especially in the areas of maritime regulatory decision making and human capacity building for the growth and development of the industry.

  • Court dismisses ex-NIMASA chief’s forced statement claim

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday dismissed the claim by former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forced him to make a statement against his will.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, in a ruling on a trial-within-trial, held that statements by Agaba and his former aide Ekene Nwakuche were made voluntarily.

    Agaba had alleged that EFCC starved him for two days and threatened to further detain him if he refused to write what the operatives wanted. He claimed that his demand for his lawyer to be present was refused.

    Also testifying in the trial-within-trial yesterday, Nwakuche claimed he was never allowed access to his lawyer while making his statements at the EFCC.

    He alleged that an EFCC operative Orji Chukwuma tutored him on what to write.

    On whether his interrogation was video recorded, he said: “I was even asked to remove my shiny wrist band on suspicion that it was a recording device.”

    Under cross examination by the prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Nwakuche admitted that he was cautioned before his statements were obtained, and that he did not make a formal complaint to EFCC chairman because he feared such as report would not “see the light of the day”.

    Justice Buba asked prosecution and defence counsel to address the court before he delivers his, but defence counsel Edoka Onyeke and Lanre Olayinka objected on the basis that they were not prepared.

    The judge refused their prayer for adjournment, noting that a trial-within-trial could be conducted in a day and ruling delivered same day.

    Oyedepo, in his address, said: “The second defendant admitted that his daughter was always allowed into the EFCC to bring him food and fruits; this is a clear departure from his evidence in chief.

    “I urge the court to hold that the evidence of PW 1 to 3 has clearly established that the statements of second and third accused were made voluntarily,” he said.

    Ruling, Justice Buba held that the objections against the statements were an afterthought.

    He said: “By the provision of section 28 of the Evidence Act, the onus to show that a statement was taken voluntarily rests with the prosecution, and the defendant has no corresponding duty to show otherwise.

    “The second defendant admits that he was granted bail by the EFCC, and was coming to the commission from his home with his driver.

    “Where a defendant is on bail and chose not to come with his lawyer to make a statement, then he cannot complain.”

    He admitted the defendants’ statement as evidence and adjourned until June 30 for continuation of trial.

  • EFCC fails to arraign ex-JTF commander, ex-NIMASA D-G, others

    EFCC fails to arraign ex-JTF commander, ex-NIMASA D-G, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Friday failed to arraign a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi over an alleged N8.5billion fraud.

    He was charged afresh with the Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, who was, until last year, the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

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

    The arraignment was stalled after Akpolobokemi objected to the reading of the 11 counts charge because 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.

    According to him, 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.

    Also named in the charge are Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga.

    EFCC said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were in charge of patrolling the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    The funds, the commission said, were allegedly diverted private accounts through fraudulent means.

    One of the counts reads in part: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josphine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58, property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

    Justice Saidu adjourned till June 3 for arraignment.

  • Freight forwarders back NIMASA’s Anti-Piracy Bill

    Freight forwarders back NIMASA’s Anti-Piracy Bill

    Some freight forwarders on Monday urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure that the Anti-Piracy Bill before the National Assembly becomes a reality.

     

    The freight forwarders made the plea in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

     

    They said that the bill, if passed would among other things, restore the nation’s maritime business-friendly status.

     

    A clearing agent, Mrs Jane Oparaeke, said that it would be a dream comes through to see the nation’s waterways regaining its safety status enjoyed in the early 80s.

     

    She said that with NIMASA at the forefront of the campaign, “there is every hope of the bill scaling the hurdle in the National Assembly’’.

     

    “It is now the duty of other stakeholders to encourage the drive that will make the nation’s ports the hub of maritime in West Africa sub-region,’’ she told NAN.

     

    The Logistics Manager, Red-Line Shipping, Mr Inuwa Omika, said that if the bill is passed, the apprehension by shippers bringing their goods to Nigeria, would be eliminated.

     

    “Passing the bill will go a long way in enabling high inflow of goods into the country,’’ Omika said.

     

    A freight forwarder, Mr Joseph Asika, urged the law enforcement agents in charge of the nation’s water ways to be more proactive.

     

    Asika suggested that the security agencies should be more vigilant to stop piracy and armed robbery at sea.

     

    A Client Services officer at Denca Services Ltd., Mr Stanley Momma, noted that shippers patronising Nigeria’s neighbouring seaports would come back to Nigerian ports “if the conditions become business friendly’’.

  • ENL Consortium ready to pay off protesting dockworkers – official

             

    ENL Consortium, operator of Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, said it was ready to pay off dockworkers who volunteered to quit their jobs.

     

    The Legal Adviser of ENL Consortium, Mr Uzamot Boye, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

     

    Boye said that contrary to claims in certain quarters, the workers were issued with valid employment letters when they joined the company.

     

    “It must be on record that these set of dockworkers elected to leave the terminals by themselves.’’

     

    “Those of them who want to continue working with us and who are in the majority, are at their job posts as we speak but the few that want to leave are free to do so.

     

    “We have been meeting with the union and officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

     

    “To work out modalities for their payments, which we are ready to pay in full in consonance with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement, ’’ the legal adviser said.

     

    According to him, everyone in the industry knows ENL Consortium to be a people-focused organisation.

     

    “We empower our people and enable them to be the best. Our Executive Vice- Chairman/Chief Executive Officer places the welfare of workers above every other consideration.

     

    “The few dockworkers who want to be paid off should be patient and work with their leaders. They will receive their full retirement benefits in line with negotiated agreements,’’ Boye said.

     

    The ENL legal adviser said the few aggrieved dockworkers were causing disruptions and breaching the peace at the ports for no justifiable reasons.