The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Patrick Akpobolokemi

  • Court adjourns trial of Akpolobolokemi, others

    Court adjourns trial of Akpolobolokemi, others

    The trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), was on Thursday adjourned to March 22.

    Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside nine others on a 40-count charge.

    They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the suit in order to rule on the admissibility of a document tendered by a witness, who is Compliance Officer with a bank.

    Justice Saliu Saidu granted the prayer of the prosecution to withdraw a document which it had tendered on Wednesday as exhibit.

    Counsel for the accused, Mr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), had at that proceedings objected to the withdrawal of the document and urged the court to mark the document as ‘reject’.

    The Prosecution witness, Adekunle, who was led in evidence by Mr. Festus Keyamo, informed the court that the anti-graft agency had requested for the account statement of Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd which his bank obliged.

    Upon the identification of the documents and while counsel to the EFCC applied to the court to admit it, Nwobike objected to its admissibility.

    Citing the provisions of sections 102 of the Evidence Act, Nwobike argued that the documents were uncertified photocopies and not original documents.

    Counsel to the other accused also aligned themselves with the submission of Nwobike.

    Justice Saidu adjourned the suit to March 22 for ruling.

    Akpobolokemi is charged alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

    Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd were also charged.

  • Alleged N3.4b theft: Prosecution opens case in ex-NIMASA DG’s trial

    Alleged N3.4b theft: Prosecution opens case in ex-NIMASA DG’s trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday called its first witness in the trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian 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.

    The charge is different from the one before Justice Ibrahim Buba, in which five witnesses have testified for the EFCC.

    In the case before Justice Saidu, Akpobolokemi and others were accused of conspiring to convert N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA, which the commission said “was derived from stealing”.

    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.

    The first prosecution witness, a Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Teslim Adekunle, said he was responsible for enquiries from regulatory agencies, such as EFCC.

    Led in evidence EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo, the witness said Zenith had between last August and December received several enquiries from EFCC.

    He said the bank was asked to produce statement of accounts as well as account opening packages of three companies, namely: Interwind Limited, Margai Integrated Limited and Grandpact Limited. The documents were tendered in evidence.

    An argument between the prosecution and defence counsel ensued when Keyamo sought to tender a document on Thlumba Enterprise Limited.

    Akpobolokemi’s lawyer Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) objected on the basis that the the document was a photocopy.

    Keyamo applied to withdraw the document, but the defence counsel urged the judge to admit the document and mark it as “rejected”.

    If marked as rejected, tendering of the original document may be foreclosed.

    The EFCC witness had earlier informed the court that the original copy was in the bank’s archive.

    Justice Saidu adjourned for ruling and continuation of trial Thursday.

     

  • ‘I didn’t know why NIMASA paid my company N72m’

    ‘I didn’t know why NIMASA paid my company N72m’

    A prosecution witness, Mr Emeka Emelano, Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he did not ask why the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) paid his company N72million even though it did not bid for any contract.

    He claimed he also did not benefit from the payments, as he transferred the money to ‘others’ accounts as he was instructed.

    Emenalo, sole proprietor of O2 Services Plus Nig. Ltd, had earlier testified during the ongoing trial of a former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi that he was paid the sum for no contract.

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

    He was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with Captain 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.

    The witness had testified that his company, which provides agro-allied services, got the money after his younger brother, Uche Emelano, sought to use his company to obtain a phantom contract from NIMASA.

    He said his brother informed him that Nwakuche would facilitate the deal. According to the witness, his brother instructed him to transfer any money paid into his company’s account to other accounts as soon as he is alerted.

    Emenalo said when he began to receive alerts, he informed his brother, who in turn informed the third accused.

    During cross-examination Tuesday, Emenalo said he did not ask NIMASA why the money was paid into his account.

    “I only called my brother Uche to notify him that NIMASA had paid the money into my account,” Emenalo said.

    The witness said he made several withdrawals from the account, explaining there were other inflows during the period.

    For instance, he said he transferred N700,000 to his sister Ijeoma, but denied personally benefiting from the deposits.

    “No, the money is not meant for our family business. I only gave my sister Ijeoma some of it,” Emenalo said.

    The witness said he was only doing his brother a favour when he agreed to allow his company’s account to be used for the payment from NIMASA.

    The witness added that he was also unaware of the nature of the contract. “I did not benefit anything from these monies paid,” he said.

    “I only requested that the sum of N300,000 be left in the account to offset bank transfer charges,” Emenalo said.

    Trial continues on Friday.

  • Witness: NIMASA paid my company N72m without contract

    Witness: NIMASA paid my company N72m without contract

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Friday heard more tales of alleged cash bazaar by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The fifth prosecution witness, Mr Emeka Emelano, said his company was paid N72 million from NIMASA even though it was not awarded any contract.

    This is coming three days after a lawyer and businessman, Uche Obilor, disclosed that three of his companies got N905,800 million from NIMASA without bidding for any contract.

    Emenalo, sole proprietor of O2 Services Plus Nig. Ltd, testified during the trial of a former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with converting N2.6billion.

    He was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

    Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with three others – 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 a total of N2, 658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said his company specialises in Agro allied services.

    According to him, sometimes in 2015, his younger brother, Uche Emelano sought to use his company to obtain a contract from NIMASA.

    He said that his brother informed him that Nwakuche would facilitate the contract.

    According to the witness, his brother instructed him to transfer any money paid to his company’s account as would be directed as soon as he is alerted.

    The witness said as soon as he began to receive alerts, he informed his brother, who in turn informed the third accused.

    Emelano said last June 18, he received an alert for N14.2 million and a further alert of N21 million; on March 15, 2015 he received an alert for N21 million and on May 4 he received N16 million.

    According to the witness, he was instructed to transfer the money to accounts belonging to Blockz and Stonz and Juan.

    He informed the court that his company did not execute any contract for NIMASA to have necessitated payment of the various funds.

    The witness added that he was also unaware of the nature of the contract for which his brother utilised his company’s account to obtain money from NIMASA.

    “I did not benefit anything from these monies paid. I only requested that the sum of N300, 000 be left in the account to offset bank transfer charges,” he said.

    Under cross examination by counsel to the third accused, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, the witness stressed that he did not enjoy any benefit from the sums paid into his account.

    Olayinka then tendered a statement of account before the witness, and drew his attention to a cheque issued in his name for the sum of N100, 000.

    Olayinka asked: “Mr Emelano, you claimed you did not benefit from the monies paid into your account, but from the document before you, on March 6, 2015 a cheque was issued in your name for the sum of N100,000.

    “If the money left in your account is for bank charges as you claim, how come you issued a cheque for the amount in your name? what was the purpose of the money?”

    The witness responded: “I took transport,” generating laughter in the packed courtroom.

    Justice Buba adjourned till February16 for continuation of cross examination.

  • We got N905.8m from NIMASA without bidding for contract- Witness

    We got N905.8m from NIMASA without bidding for contract- Witness

    A lawyer and businessman, Uche Obilor, Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that three of his companies received N905,800 million from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) without bidding for any contract.

    He said the firms – Seabulk Offshore Limited, Southern Offshore Limited and Ace Prothesis Limited – were paid for a contract they never executed.

    He was testifying in the trial of a former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi, who was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) converting N2.6billion.

    He was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

    Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with three others – Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan – and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, the youthful Rotimi Oyedepo, Obilor said he was approached by NIMASA to provide vessels for the implementation of an ISPS Code project.

    Oyedepo asked: “Did you bid for the contract?” The witness said: “We did not officially bid for the contract.”

    The EFCC lawyer asked: “Did you execute the unofficial contract?” Obilor responded: “The contract was not executed.”

    According to the witness, the companies received letters of award of contracts although they did not submit any bids.

    He said the monies were paid before they got confirmation that they had been awarded the contract.

    “When we had the letter of award, by then the monies had been paid upfront.

    “We were later approached that we should stay action, and that we should remit the money to certain companies and individuals,” he said.

    He said his companies got the following sums: Seabulk Offshore, N437million; Southern Offshore, N402million; and Ace Prothesis, N66.8million.

    Obilor said they neither issued requests for payment, nor did they submit any invoices.

    When he was showed a request document for the payment of a particular sum, he said: “We did not issue this document.”

    The witness said he received instructions from Captain Agaba, and that they discussed verbally.

    Under cross examination by Akpobolokemi’s lawyer Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Obilor said he never dealt with or met the former NIMASA boss.

    “I did not meet the first defendant,” he said.

    When Agaba’s lawyer, Edoka Onyeke, confronted the witness with a document signed by his executive directors, Obilor denied that any of his staff signed any papers bidding for the contract or demanding payment.

    “I am very much aware of what happens in my companies. If the documents had emanated from the companies I would have known. I am unaware that my directors signed the documents,” he said.

    Obilor said he took steps to confirm if indeed his workers signed the documents, but admitted there was no documentary evidence showing their denial.

    “I am not aware of any statements from them denying the documents. I didn’t take them along to the EFCC to deny those documents,” he said.

    Adjourning, Justice Buba joked that he had to force himself to sit for the trial even though he was treating malaria.

    “My temperature was very high Monday, but I forced myself to be here so that the press will not write a bold headline that ‘judge’s absence stalled trial,’” he said.

    Trial continues on Friday.

  • Co-accused’s absence stalls Ex-NIMASA DG’s trial

    Co-accused’s absence stalls Ex-NIMASA DG’s trial

    The trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), , was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos Friday due to the sixth defendant’s absence.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him and nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu.

    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 other accused 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.

    All of them were in court Friday, except Juan, who was said to be in prison custody due to his inability to meet a bail condition granted him in a separate charge by a Lagos High Court.

    His lawyer, Ige Ashemudare, said: “The sixth defendant is not in court. He is confined in prison custody. He has not been able to perfect the bail condition as we speak. He’s still in custody.”

    EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo said he was informed about Juan’s inability to meet his bail condition.

    He, therefore, did not oppose Ashemudare’s application for an adjournment.

    “In the circumstance, all of us (prosecution and defence counsel) have put heads together to agree on a date, subject to the convenience of the court,” he said.

    The accused persons alleged converted the money to their use between December 2013 and July 15 last 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,” among others. They all pleaded not guilty to all counts.

    Akpobolokemi is facing four criminal charges at the Federal High Court, and one at the Lagos High Court.

    In one of the pending charges, his co-accused is a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), who a bench was issued for his arrest.

    Trial has begun in one of the charges before Justice Ibrahim, with two witnesses already called.

    However, no witness has testified in the case before Justice Saidu, who‎ adjourned till February 17 and 18.

     

  • 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.

  • Court summons Tompolo over criminal charges

    Court summons Tompolo over criminal charges

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo a.k.a Tompolo to appear before it to face criminal charged filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Other accused persons in the charge sheet, numbered FHC/L/553c/2015, are – a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kemi Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem and Destre Consult Limited.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba issued the summons on Tompolo following a January 12 motion ex-parte moved by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo.

    He ruled: “An order is granted to the applicant issuing a summons to compel the appearance of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) before this honourable court having been alleged to have committed the offences as contained in the body of the charge.”

    The judge also granted EFCC leave to serve the summons and the charge on Tompolo by affixing them on a conspicuous part of his address at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State.

    Security agents on December 14 last year re-arrested 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 Buba adjourned trial to January 18.

  • Court adjourns Akpobolokemi family’s suit

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned till February 4 a suit filed by the family of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Akpobolokemi’s wife, Beauty, and his brothers – Stephen, Julius and Victor – filed the fundamental rights action, demanding N100million as damages for the emotional and psychological trauma EFCC allegedly caused them.

    The case was previously before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, but was transferred to Justice Saliu Saidu.

    Security agents re-arrested Akpobolokemi after he was arraigned before two different judges. He and nine others, including two companies, were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on charges of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    EFCC also arraigned him and three others before Justice Ibrahim Buba on separate charges of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

    According to Akpobolokemi’s family, armed security operatives numbering about 25, stormed his Banana Island residence on July 31 last year in the bid to arrest the ex-NIMASA chief.

    They said EFCC operatives, without any search warrant, harassed them and coerced Mrs. Akpobolokemi to write a statement.

     

  • Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested outside court premises

    Ex-NIMASA DG re-arrested outside court premises

    Security agents on Monday 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 swooped on Akpobolokemi  and bundled him into a waiting bus soon after Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned trial to January 18, 2016.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the ex-NIMASA DG 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 – Capt. 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 charges.

    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 to the charge.

    The Nation 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.