Emmanuel Thomas
Nigeria, Oct 18, 2016 – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Monday testified at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos against former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi and 10 others in a N1, 055,590, 211 suit.
In the suit marked FHC/L/496/C/15, brought before Justice S. Saidu of the Federal High Court, EFCC ‘s Head of Special Task Force On Investigation of Public Sector Funds, Mr. Kanu Idagu told the court that the former NIMASA DG through his associates diverted the money by setting up various committees charged with different responsibility and that some of the committees were used for fraudulent activities where the money was cornered and laundered through dubious Bureau De Change.
According to him, one of them was Committee for Intelligence and security related issues in the maritime domain.
He alleged that accounts were subsequently opened in Access Bank PLC with Account No: 0688939609 in Apapa, Zenith Bank PLC , First Bank PLC, Heritage Bank, UBA PLC and others which became recipient of the fund from where they were laundered and converted.
He said that between 20th of December 2013 and July 2015, the Access Bank Account in Apapa received money in three tranches totalling #153 million from the committee.
According to him, to distribute the fund, the Chairman raised Internal memo to the Director of Finance and Administration, wherein it was noted that the funds so requested were to be used for Intelligence based security activities.
“Companies used as we discovered were owned or operated by NIMASA staff.’’, he said. According to him, one of the companies used was Aler Regulated Services domiciled at Access Bank but operated by the chairman, Uche Obilor.
He said the chairman transferred #60 million to that account and further requested transfer of #30 million to Eboigbe Eti-Osa & Associates whom he said is an Estate Agent.
He told the court that #30 million was used as part payment for a property he bought for #70 million, while the rest paid from other sources.
He said that the second accused person then instructed Uche Obilor to transfer #10 million to KOFAR Fada, a BDC and that the Dollar equivalent was handed over to the second accused person.
“Finally, the second accused person instructed Uche Obilor to transfer #2milion to AL-Kenzo(9th accused). The sum of #18 million was retained by Uche Obilor as his benefit.
“The second accused person in a bid to fraudulently take money out of the system made a chain of fictitious and non-existing business contract between NIMASA and KOFAR-Fada at an account with First Bank”, he explained.
According to him, the second accused person forged letter headed paper as one of the operators of the account(Wakil Dauda and Tahir Dada), where he facilitated a contract award to Kofa-Fada for #119, 580,000 to provide security services and that the Dollar equivalent of the money was eventually transferred and handed over to the second accused person.
“ In like manner, another contract of #155,800,000 was given to the second accused. Also the sum of #26 million was also transferred to the same Kofa-Fada. Dollar equivalent was handed over, making a total of #261,380,000(Dollar equivalent which he said he handed over to the then Director of NIMASA, the first accused person.
He said that the second accused also transferred N86 million to Usseini AA and the Dollar equivalent was handed over to the second accused person.
He said that the 3rd accused person, Ekene Nwabuche opened an account ADAC global with Enterprise Bank where #120 million was transferred in 3 tranches.
He also operated an Access Bank Account called Gidoga Investment Ltd and the sum of N65 million was transferred and the money eventually handed over to the first accused, ex-NIMASA DG.
He said the 3rd accused nominated an Account, Baloon Associates, operated by Alili Haliday, a BDC operator and N10 million (dollar equivalent) was given and that N33 million was also given to the 3rd accused by Alili Haliday, which he said was eventually given to first accused.
He said money were again raised to the tune of N94 million and given in three tranche cash withdrawal and given to first accused, making a total of N422, 300,000.
According to him, Mr. Félix, the 4th accused opened a UBA account KXM Ltd, operated by Ogbonna Kamal Obilor and N6 million was transferred to that account.
“ As soon as the money hit the account, he instructed the operator, 4th accused to transfer N5.5 million to an account called FBA NABENA &CO, operated by his nephew for purchase of a property in Delta State.
Again, the 4th accused person instructed the transfer of N20 million to an account in Zenith Bank, called Interwinge Nigh Ltd, operated by Victor Ikpoto and further instructed the owner to transfer N4,941,556 to the PA of the First Accused(8th accused).
The 4th accused person also instructed transfer of N9,280,000 to Grace Z Subeir, mother of the 4th defendant and also instructed transfer of N4,941,655 to Pressy Doctor Jombo, PA to first accused.
He said the 5th accused nominated an account Pernel Engineering at Skye Bank for the purpose of diverting money with friends made as signatories and that the 5th Accused instructed transfer of N138, 500,000 .
He said N57million was transferred to Access Bank account called Yucee Nigeria Ltd, belonging to Victor Omzuruike and N57 million was transferred in three tranches. The account is operated by Director of Finance and Administration and the money was shared among the 9 member board of NIMASA at N3 million each, he said.
He said that N15 million was again transferred to Enterprise Bank account called Glover Sea Investment Ltd belonging to Calistus Obi, then a director in NIMASA and later Acting DG.
He said N15 million was transferred to Grand Pact Ltd, owned by Cellists Obi for personal use, also N35 million wasb transferred to Zenith Bank account, Thlumbau Nigeria Ltd owned by Haruna Baba Jaura. The sum of N17, 470, 000 was also transferred to Pierre Resources and N65 million to transferred to Crescent Pillars.
His Lordship, Justice S. Saidu has adjourned the matter to December 15 and 19 for documentation.
