EFCC arraigns Ex-NIMASA boss, 9 others for alleged N1.153bn scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday December 3, arraigned a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi 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.

He was arraigned along with seven other staff of the agency including Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Executive Director, and their two companies.

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”.