FORMER Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and others accused in the alleged N1.15 billion scam surrounding the provision of intelligence around the maritime domain, were yesterday, admitted to bail by Justice Salihu Sa’idu of the Federal High Court Lagos.
While Akpobolokemi was granted bail in the sum of N100 million, other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50 million as the judge fixed the commencement of trial to January 29, 2016.
Akpobolokemi and seven other workers including the executive director, Captain Eziekiel Agaba, and their two companies were arraigned yesterday before Justice Sa’idu 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.
A statement from EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren read that 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 billion 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”.
Counsels representing the accused persons: Joseph Nwobike SAN for the first and fourth 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.
Justice Salihu however admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of N100 million 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 or state government employment not below the rank of director. The other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50 million each with one surety in like sum.
One of the sureties must be in either Federal or 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.
