The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today December 3, 2015
arraigned a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi; and seven other staff of
the agency including Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Executive Director, and
their two companies before Justice Salihu Sa'idu of the Federal High
Court Lagos on a 30- count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent
conversion of funds and Money Laundering.
Others
are Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor
Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited and Penniel
Engineering Services Limited
The
accused persons allegedly conspired to convert and launder several sums
of money running into billions of naira under the guise of providing
security intelligence around the Maritime domain.
A
committee on intelligence was established by the agency under the
watch of Apobolokemi with the second accused person, Captain Agaba as
chairman. The committee allegedly received a total sum of N1,
153,000,000 (One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Three Million Naira
Only) between December 2013 to July 2015.
In
disbursing the sum, the accused persons allegedly conspired and hired
companies which investigation revealed were neither registered nor have
requisite capacity to provide such services.
Investigation
further disclosed that most of the companies contracted were either
nominated by the accused persons or are directly owned by them.
One
of the counts read, “that you Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Captain
Eziekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi
Enisuoh, Governor Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, Alkenzo
Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited on or about 20th of
December 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court did
conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit; conversion of the
sum N1,153,000,000 (One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Three Million
Naira Only) property of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency which sum was derived from stealing and thereby committed an
offence contrary to section 18a of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
(Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same
Act”.
After listening to the charge, the
accused persons pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo
prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison and fix a date
for trial.
Counsels
representing the accused persons: Joseph Nwobike SAN for the first and
forth accused persons, Lanre Olayinka for the second and ninth accused
persons, Pascal Made for the third accused person, C.A Nmarkwe for the
fifth accused, Kayode Omoya for the eighth accused, Ige Asemundara for
the sixth accused and E.O Ogbebor for the seventh and tenth accused
persons filed bail applications praying the court to admit their clients
to bail.
In
opposing the bail application for the first accused person, Oyedepo
filed a counter affidavit praying the court not to grant the defendant’s
application. He argued that the first defendant had jumped the
administrative bail granted to him by the Commission. He further added
that someone who could not honor administrative bail should not be
trusted to honour bail granted by the court.
Oyedepo
also told the court to refuse the bail applications of all the other
accused persons based on the severity of the proof of evidence before
it.
Justice
Salihu however admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of
N100,000, 000 and two sureties. One of the sureties must have a landed
property in either Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island. The other surety
must be in either Federal of State government employment not below the
rank of Director.
The other accused persons
were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000,000 each with one surety in
like sum. One of the sureties must be in either Federal of State
government employment not below level 16 and the other must have a
landed property within Lagos.
Justice
Salihu adjourned the case to January 29, 2016 for the commencement of
trial and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi prison
pending perfection of their bail terms.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
3rd December, 2015
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