The trial of the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, continued at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The second prosecution witness, a fashion designer, Chukwuemeka Onuoha told the court how his company, Extreme Vertevex Limited was used to siphon over 546,802,000 million Naira from the coffers of the NIMASA for a contract that was not awarded to him on Tuesday.

Led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Onuoha said the money was paid into his account with Zenith Bank even though he did not tender any proposal or carried out any contract for NIMASA.

The disbursement of the money was said to have been facilitated by the 3rd defendant (Ekene Nwakuche) who was his secondary school mate.

Onuoha told the Court that he was later instructed to transfer the money to different accounts by the 3rd defendant.

Under cross examination by Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), counsel to the first defendant, Onuoha told the Court he had never met the first defendant, (Akpobolokemi) or received any instruction from him.

Also testifying as the 3rd prosecution witness, a Bureau De Change operator, Hussein Sabo, said that on March 2014, he was approached by one Muhammed Darlington, who told him that the 2nd defendants, (Captain Ezekiel Agaba) wanted to buy dollars.

Mr Sabo in his testimony, said “Darlington collected my account numbers and several millions of Naira were paid into the account which I used to buy dollars”, he said.

He also confirmed that on March 3, 2014, monies were paid into his account namely, 33, 800,000 Naira ; 35, 000,000 Naira ; 20, 000,000 Naira and 3, 000,000 Naira respectively.

Mr Sabo also disclosed that between the month of March 2014 and December 2014, he received through his account, 85, 305,000 Naira, 155, 300,000 Naira, 13, 000,000 Naira, 10, 000,000 Naira and 84, 000, 000 Naira respectively.

Justice Ibrahim Buba has adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 2,5, 16 and 19 respectively.

The former Director-General of NIMASA and six others are standing trial over an alleged theft of 2.6 billion Naira belonging to NIMASA.

Mr Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice 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 by the EFCC, they were accused of converting a total of 2, 658,957,666 Naira between December 23, 2013 and May 28 2015.