Alleged N754.8m fraud: EFCC arraign Akpobolokemi, 6 others again
(Nigeria) A former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, was again on Monday
arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, on charges of fraud
and forgery.
He and the other accused persons, have also been arraigned
before a Federal High Court, Lagos on two different charges.
Akpobolokemi was arraigned along with Captain Ezekiel Agaba,
Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega
Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nig. Ltd.
They were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, with offences bordering on stealing and forgery to the tune
of N754.8 million.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following
an application for bail, moved by defence counsel, Mr Joseph Nwobike, SAN,
Justice Raliat Adebiyi granted the first to fifth accused persons N20 million
bail each, with two sureties each in like sum.
She granted the sixth and seventh accused persons bail in
the sum of N2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
She added that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of
means and fixed February 24 for trial.
In the charge, the accused persons were alleged to have
between Oct. 30, 2014 and May 6, 2015, converted more than N300 million belonging
to NIMASA to their personal use.
The funds were allegedly released to them for the
implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State
Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).
They were also alleged to have converted, to their use, the
sum of over N257 million also money released for the VIMSAS scheme.
The defendants were also alleged to have 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 Ltd.
The offences were said to have contravened the provisions of
Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2011
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