The trial of the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime & Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, started on Monday.
Mr Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos 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.
The former Director General of NIMASA was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of 795.2 million Naira.
The court sitting how part of the 2.6 billion Naira allegedly stolen by Mr Akpobolokemi was disbursed.
In a 22-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), they were accused of converting a total of 2,658 billion Naira between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Disbursements
The EFCC opened trial with its first witness, Teslim Ajuwon, who was the Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank.
Mr Ajuwon said he was responsible for inquiries from regulatory agencies such as the EFCC, the police, NDLEA, among others.
He said he received inquiries from EFCC for a report of activities on some accounts, including Aruwo Consulting Limited, Extreme Vertex Limited, Southern Options Limited, Green Lemon Services and Committee on ISPS.
Mr Ajuwon further said that the bank received a request to produce account opening package of the companies as well as their financial statements.
The witness said the fourth defendant, Governor Juan, was paid 11 million Naira on September 9, 2014, while Kenzo Logistics, also a defendant, got 10 million Naira the same day.
For the Committee on ISPS account, there was an inflow of 14.2 million Naira on June 17, 2014 from Access Bank; 21.2 million Naira on March 5, 2015; 16 million Naira on May 5, 2015; and 21.2 million Naira on June 18, 2015.
He said the monies were later disbursed, leaving only 1.4 million Naira as balance on June 18, 2015.
Mr Ajuwon said that 10 million Naira was transferred to Uchenna Emenalo on June 19 while another 11 million Naira was transferred to him the same day.
He said on August 29, 2014, there was a credit of 795.2 million Naira into the Committee on ISPS account from NIMASA.
The witness said it was followed by several payments amounting to 27 million Naira to Ekene Nwauche between September 16 and November 18, 2014.
According to him, 318 million Naira was paid to Extreme Bracket on November 6, 2014, while Avant Guard Security Services got 94 million Naira.
Several other companies also received payments. According to the witness, on January 8, 2015, Soko Global Services got 15.7 million Naira; Alfa Convoy got 6.9 million Naira; R-World Consulting got 70 million Naira, while O2 Services Plus Limited got 21.2 million Naira on March 5, 2015.
Mr Ajuwon further explained that on May 28, 2015, NIMASA made a lodgment of 447 million Naira, which was also disbursed to different companies.
They include 95 million Naira to Avant Guard on May 28, 2015; 46 million Naira to R-World Consulting; and seven million Naira to Green Lemon Consulting.
During cross-examination by Mr Akpbolokemi’s lawyer, the witness said he did not see the first accused’s name in the documents he tendered.
“I’ve looked through Exhibits 1-12, I did not see the name of the first defendant,” he said.
Justice Buba, however, adjourned the case till Tuesday, January 19, 2016 for continuation of the trial.
