The anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the immediate past managing director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, DR. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi before a Lagos Federal High Court, on 30 counts charge of conversion of the sum of N3.700,629 billion.
Charged alongside the former NIMASA boss before Justice Saliu Saidu led court are; Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Amechee Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.
Also charged with the accused persons are two limited liability companies: Al-kenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.
The EFCC in a charge number FHC/L/496c/15, alleged that Akpolobokemi and other accused persons had on or before December 20, 2013, by conspiring among themselves to converts the said sum which was derived from stealing NIMASA.
The alleged offences according to the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18(a) and 15(1)of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act. 2012, and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
Count one if the charge reads; "that you Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Amechee Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari, Al-kenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited on or about 20th day of December, 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; conversion of the sum of N1,151,214.00, (One billion, one hundred and fifty one million, two hundred and forty thousand naira), property of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, which was derived from stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act. 2012, and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act."
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.
Upon the plea of the accused persons, Oyedepo urged the court to remand the accused persons in prisons custody pending the determination of the the charge.
However, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, counsel to the Akpolobokemi and the fourth accused person, Felix Bob-Nabena, urged the court to grant bail to his clients in self-recognition.
Nwobike SAN, said the accused persons bail applications was pursuant to sections 32 (1)(2), 158 and 165 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015; and section 35 of Nigeria constitution, 1999.
Nwobike SAN, further said the applications are supported with deposed to by one Felix Deckon and the fourth accused person.
He also urged the court not to make make an order allowing the EFCC to verify the bail conditions. He said by grant the EFCC to verify the bail conditions, his clients may be in remand for longer period.
Also, the second, third, fifth sixth seventh, eighth ninth and 10 accused persons through their various lawyers, aligned themselves with the submission of Dr. Nwobike on their bail applications.
But in opposition to the bail applications, EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo urged the court to refused the applications.
Though, he conceded that apart from other accused persons who voluntary honour the administrative bail granted them, it took the agency extra energy to rearrest the Akpolobokemi, who he claimed to have jumped bail.
He therefore urged the court to refused the bail applications of the accused persons.
Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Saidu admitted bail to Akpolobokemi in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in the same sum.
One of the sureties according to the judge must be blood relation to the accused, with landed property in Ikoyi, Lekki or Victoria Island of Lagos state. While the second surety must be a director in either Federal or state civil service.
Justice Said also ordered the accused to deposit his international traveling passport with the court's Deputy Registrar.
Other accused persons were admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties each.
One of the sureties according to the judge must be blood relation to the accused, with landed property in Ikoyi, Lekki or Victoria Island of Lagos state. While the second surety must be a director in either Federal or state civil service.
Justice Said also ordered the accused to deposit their international traveling passports with the court's Deputy Registrar, DCR.
He ordered that the DCR must be certify the bail conditions.
He however ordered that all the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody pending the perfection of the bail conditions
The accused persons trial has been adjourned till January 29, 2016
Charged alongside the former NIMASA boss before Justice Saliu Saidu led court are; Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Amechee Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.
Also charged with the accused persons are two limited liability companies: Al-kenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.
The EFCC in a charge number FHC/L/496c/15, alleged that Akpolobokemi and other accused persons had on or before December 20, 2013, by conspiring among themselves to converts the said sum which was derived from stealing NIMASA.
The alleged offences according to the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18(a) and 15(1)of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act. 2012, and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
Count one if the charge reads; "that you Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Amechee Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari, Al-kenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited on or about 20th day of December, 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; conversion of the sum of N1,151,214.00, (One billion, one hundred and fifty one million, two hundred and forty thousand naira), property of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, which was derived from stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act. 2012, and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act."
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.
Upon the plea of the accused persons, Oyedepo urged the court to remand the accused persons in prisons custody pending the determination of the the charge.
However, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, counsel to the Akpolobokemi and the fourth accused person, Felix Bob-Nabena, urged the court to grant bail to his clients in self-recognition.
Nwobike SAN, said the accused persons bail applications was pursuant to sections 32 (1)(2), 158 and 165 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015; and section 35 of Nigeria constitution, 1999.
Nwobike SAN, further said the applications are supported with deposed to by one Felix Deckon and the fourth accused person.
He also urged the court not to make make an order allowing the EFCC to verify the bail conditions. He said by grant the EFCC to verify the bail conditions, his clients may be in remand for longer period.
Also, the second, third, fifth sixth seventh, eighth ninth and 10 accused persons through their various lawyers, aligned themselves with the submission of Dr. Nwobike on their bail applications.
But in opposition to the bail applications, EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo urged the court to refused the applications.
Though, he conceded that apart from other accused persons who voluntary honour the administrative bail granted them, it took the agency extra energy to rearrest the Akpolobokemi, who he claimed to have jumped bail.
He therefore urged the court to refused the bail applications of the accused persons.
Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Saidu admitted bail to Akpolobokemi in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in the same sum.
One of the sureties according to the judge must be blood relation to the accused, with landed property in Ikoyi, Lekki or Victoria Island of Lagos state. While the second surety must be a director in either Federal or state civil service.
Justice Said also ordered the accused to deposit his international traveling passport with the court's Deputy Registrar.
Other accused persons were admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties each.
One of the sureties according to the judge must be blood relation to the accused, with landed property in Ikoyi, Lekki or Victoria Island of Lagos state. While the second surety must be a director in either Federal or state civil service.
Justice Said also ordered the accused to deposit their international traveling passports with the court's Deputy Registrar, DCR.
He ordered that the DCR must be certify the bail conditions.
He however ordered that all the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody pending the perfection of the bail conditions
The accused persons trial has been adjourned till January 29, 2016
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