Court adjourns ex-NIMASA DG, trial to Feb. 17

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(Nigeria) The trial of  a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, was on Friday stalled at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, due to the absence of Governor Juan, the sixth defendant in the charge.
Juan is said be in prison custody due to his inability to meet the bail condition granted him in a separate charge file against him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere.
At the Federal High Court, the EFCC arraigned Akpobolokemi and nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu.
They were accused of conspiring to convert N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA.  
The commission said the money “was derived from stealing.”
EFCC said the alleged offence contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).
The other accused are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh,  Juan, Ugo Fredrick, Timi Alari and two companies Al-Kenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.
All them were in court on Friday, except Juan.
His lawyer, Ige Ashemudare, said: "The sixth defendant is not in court. He is confined in prison custody. He has not been able to perfect the bail condition as we speak. He's still in custody."
EFCC's lawyer, Festus Keyamo said he was informed about Juan's inability to meet his bail condition and did not oppose Ashemudare's application for an adjournment. 
The accused persons alleged converted the money to their use between December 2013 and July 15 last year.
In count one, the defendants allegedly “conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of N1,151,214,000.00, property of NIMASA, money derived from stealing…”
EFCC said on December 23, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N861.5 million. On July 7 and 15 this year, they allegedly converted N235.4 million.
Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Nwakuche and Al-Kenzo were accused of converting N60 million, which they “derived from stealing," among others. They all pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Meanwhile, trial judge, Justice Saidu adjourned till February 17 and 18 further hearing in the case.

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