SAN FRANCISCO, November 04, (THEWILL) – A Lagos high court, sitting in Ikeja, has heard how a former Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, requested and converted N496 million from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, to personal use.
This was disclosed by Orji Chukwuma, a witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while giving evidence before the court presided by Justice Raliatu Adebiyi.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, at the resumed sitting of the court on Friday, Chukwuma, stated that the sum of N816,200 million was fraudulently transferred between 2014 and 2015 by Akpobolokemi further narrating how he also allegedly transferred N504 million to Arrow World Consultancy Services Limited.
Akpobolokemi is facing a 13-count charge bordering on stealing alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega Sahib Olopoenia, and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited for allegedly stealing over N754, 740,680.00 million belonging to NIMASA.
Chukwuma, an investigating officer with the EFCC, revealed that the commission received intelligence report of a monumental fraud going on in NIMASA under the leadership of Akpobolokemi adding that in the cause of investigation, it was discovered that defendants converted money meant for the purchase of equipment and other items for NIMASA to personal use.
“Based on the fraudulent presentation of documents presented by the first defendant through Office of National Security Adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan, which was approved, an account was created in the name of VIMSAS which was operated by the second defendants and some others,” he said.
“Exhibit P10 represents a letter from NIMASA dated June 20, 2014 and a correspondence from ONSA on July 30, 2014 a payment voucher. The NSA approved the sum of N498million but the investigation revealed contrary.
“A request of N318million was made and attached the list of things to purchase but investigation revealed that the money was converted as against the list. There was instruction to move N498, 200m from NIMASA account to VIMSAS account no 1013961926 domiciled in Zenith Bank. The 1st defendant gave the order for the transferred.
“On exhibit P9, a mandate to transferred N318million to VIMSAS account with Zenith Bank account and was approved by the 1st defendant. We wrote to the bank and we received responses on the activities on the account.
“It also showed that 2nd defendant is signatory to the account. On September 24 and November 16, 2014, a withdrawal of N3 million was made by the 3rd defendant on each day. On April 29, 2014 an out flow of N11 million by Liquid Garden and converted.”
The trial judge, Justice Adebiyi however adjourned the matter till November 30, 2016.
Story by Oputah David
