An Assistant Director in office of Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency, NIMASA, Mrs. Olamide Odusanya, has testified that former NIMASA Director-General, DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi authorized the agency's account with Zenith Bank to be credited with about five hundred million naira from where it was disbursed to some of the defendants.
Mrs. Odusanya, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness in the ongoing trial of Akpolobokemi and six others, maintained no financial transactions could be made without Akpobolokemi's approval.
She added that that Akpolobokemi was an 'A' signatory to NIMASA's two bank accounts, one of which was with Access Bank.
Standing trial with Akpolobokemi on Charge No. LD/2181C/15, are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.
They were arraigned on January 25, 2016, but pleaded not guilty to the 13 counts pressed against them.
Led in examination in chief by prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Mrs. Odusanya stated that she was a 'B' signatory to two accounts owned by NIMASA's Committee of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme, VIMSAS.
But that "The accounting officer of NIMASA is the CEO, that is, the D-G. Payment instructions were also approved by the D-G."
The witness identified the first to sixth defendant as being former NIMASA officials, adding that the credit of about five hundred million naira was paid on August 29, 2014.
Referring to Akpobolokemi, she said: "The D-G/CEO approved the payment. The approval is on the Electronic Payment Schedule. 'Approved, please comply'".
Mrs. Odusanya also identified Captain Ezekiel Agaba, former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Safety & Shipping Development, as the chairman of Committee of VIMSAS.
She listed how money was then disbursed into several accounts owned by different companies and persons.
The witness testified that on September 16, 2014, a memo from the office of the second defendant, Agaba, initiated the withdrawal of three million naira in favour of third defendant, Nwakuche.
On September 29, there was a transfer of one million, four hundred thousand naira to Lakewood Gardens Ventures Ltd, while sixty one million naira was transferred to Kofa Fada Nigeria Ltd, on October 30, she said.
Mrs. Odusanya also confirmed that six million naira was withdrawn in favour of Nwakuche in two tranches of three million naira on November 28 and December 17.
In 2015, Gama Marine Ltd got thirty nine and four hundred and fifty million naira on February 2, while Committee on Third Strategic Admiralty was paid twenty five million naira.
"On May 20, 2016, three hundred and eighteen million naira was paid into VIMSAS Committee Account. The sum was approved by the first defendant," the witness said.
She added that the payment was made to a UBA account and identified all the NIMASA memos and documents authorizing the transaction before same were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Justice Adebiyi adjourned till today for continuation of trial.
Mrs. Odusanya, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness in the ongoing trial of Akpolobokemi and six others, maintained no financial transactions could be made without Akpobolokemi's approval.
She added that that Akpolobokemi was an 'A' signatory to NIMASA's two bank accounts, one of which was with Access Bank.
Standing trial with Akpolobokemi on Charge No. LD/2181C/15, are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.
They were arraigned on January 25, 2016, but pleaded not guilty to the 13 counts pressed against them.
Led in examination in chief by prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Mrs. Odusanya stated that she was a 'B' signatory to two accounts owned by NIMASA's Committee of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme, VIMSAS.
But that "The accounting officer of NIMASA is the CEO, that is, the D-G. Payment instructions were also approved by the D-G."
The witness identified the first to sixth defendant as being former NIMASA officials, adding that the credit of about five hundred million naira was paid on August 29, 2014.
Referring to Akpobolokemi, she said: "The D-G/CEO approved the payment. The approval is on the Electronic Payment Schedule. 'Approved, please comply'".
Mrs. Odusanya also identified Captain Ezekiel Agaba, former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Safety & Shipping Development, as the chairman of Committee of VIMSAS.
She listed how money was then disbursed into several accounts owned by different companies and persons.
The witness testified that on September 16, 2014, a memo from the office of the second defendant, Agaba, initiated the withdrawal of three million naira in favour of third defendant, Nwakuche.
On September 29, there was a transfer of one million, four hundred thousand naira to Lakewood Gardens Ventures Ltd, while sixty one million naira was transferred to Kofa Fada Nigeria Ltd, on October 30, she said.
Mrs. Odusanya also confirmed that six million naira was withdrawn in favour of Nwakuche in two tranches of three million naira on November 28 and December 17.
In 2015, Gama Marine Ltd got thirty nine and four hundred and fifty million naira on February 2, while Committee on Third Strategic Admiralty was paid twenty five million naira.
"On May 20, 2016, three hundred and eighteen million naira was paid into VIMSAS Committee Account. The sum was approved by the first defendant," the witness said.
She added that the payment was made to a UBA account and identified all the NIMASA memos and documents authorizing the transaction before same were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Justice Adebiyi adjourned till today for continuation of trial.
No comments:
Post a Comment