The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has rearrested the immediate past Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, outside the Federal High Court premises in Lagos.
Akplobokemi was immediately bundled into the awaiting bus of the anti-graft agency, a white Toyota Hiace bus, by armed operatives of the agency numbering about 10, after the court proceedings.
He was forced into the bus after he resisted and vowed not to follow the detectives to their office. Efforts by his lawyers led by Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, to stop his rearrest, was rebuffed by the armed detectives, who acted in a commando way.
No was among the detectives was willing to give reasons why he was rearrested.
Earlier, Justice Ibrahim Nasir Buba of a Lagos Federal High Court, had adjourned the trial of Akpolobekemi and five other accused persons facing criminal charges before the court till January, 18, 2016.
Those charged alongside Akpolobokemi before the court by the EFCC includes Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Governor Ameche Juan; Blockz and Stonez Nigeria Limited and Al-Kenzo Nigeria Limited,.
They are charged on 22 counts charge of the alleged theft of N2.6 billion before the court.
The court adjourned the accused persons' trial at the instance of the third, fifth and sixth accused persons, whose counsel informed the court that he just received the brief.
At the last proceeding, the Judge had warned lawyers representing Akpolobokemi, and other accused persons not to make any attempt in truncating the trial of the accused persons.
At the last adjourned date, the accused persons' lawyers which included Dr. Joseph Nwoboke, SAN,; Madu Paschal, and Ige Asemugara, representing the first, second and fourth gave different reasons for seeking for an adjournment of the accused persons' trial.
In seeking for adjournment, Dr. Nwobike, SAN, had informed the court that his client, Dr. Akpolobokemi, was unable to perfect the bail conditions since Friday, and this made it impossible conferred with him.
He therefore urged the court for a very short adjournment which he said his client would have been able to meet the bail conditions and he would have been able to conferred with him.
Counsel representing the second accused person in the case, Mr. Madu Paschal, in seeking for the adjournment of his client's trial, said he was preparing for a burial which has not make him prepared enough for the trial.
Counsel representing fourth accused person, Mr. Asemugara, said he sought for an adjournment due to an application he had before the court.
Asemugara urged the court to first decide the application which was contending on the court's jurisdiction to try the accused persons before taking any step on the matter.
And the lawyer representing the third, fifth and sixth accused persons, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, through a letter informed the court of his medical appointment abroad.
In responding to the submissions made by the accused persons lawyers, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, lawyer to the EFCC, urged the court to discontinuance the adjournment request made by the accused persons' lawyers, and commence the trial as fixed by the court.
But ruling on the adjournment sought by the accused persons, Justice Buba warned the lawyers to be aware of provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, which mandated day-to-day trial of criminal proceedings and not to do anything to frustrate the accused persons' trial.
The judge said; "whether the defendants was able to perfect their bail should not stop the trial. The only issue is that the third is not represented by counsel.
"The court warned that counsels must be aware of provision the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which mandated day-to-day trial of criminal matter. The letter of the law for day-to-day trial will be follow strictly."
The accused persons in a charge marked FHC/L/511c/15, were alleged had on or about February 4, 2014, did conspired among themselves to commit the act by converting the said sum, property of NIMASA, which was derived from stealing.
They were also alleged to have with intent to defraud conspired among themselves by inducing the Federal government of Nigeria to approve and deliver the said sum, under the false pretence that the said sum represented the cost for the implementation of the International Ship and Ports Security (ISPS), Code in Nigeria Ports.
The alleged offences according to the anti-graft agency prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to sections 15(1), 18(a) 8(a), 1(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under section 15(3) and 1(3) of the same Act.
In another criminal charged by the EFCC, Akpolobokemi and nine others were on last Thursday, arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court on a 30 count-charge of alleged theft of N3.4 billion.
Those 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 Al-kenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.
Though, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges and admitted to different bail conditions, and ordered that they should all be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, while adjourned the case till January 29, 2016, for trial.
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