The trial of a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and 6 others did not go on at the Lagos High Court sitting in the Igbosere Area of Lagos Island on Wednesday.
The court failed to sit and nobody could ascertain why.
The court’s list however indicated that the trial has now been fixed for February 29.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the men before Justice Raliat Adebiyi on January 25 on a 13 count charge of forgery & stealing about N754.7 million.
The EFCC specifically accused the defendants of converting to their personal use a sum of N346.8m released to them by NIMASA, a sum meant for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme.
They were also accused of forging a document of “request for payment as consultant for VIMSAS services” with an intent to commit fraud.
The offences are said to be contrary to Section 409 and punishable under Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.
The defendants had all pleaded not guilty and Justice Adebiyi had granted the former NIMASA boss and 4 other accused persons bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum.
The last two accused persons got bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum.
The other accused persons are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd.