Admin l Wednesday, July 05, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Mrs. Titi Atiku, wife of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar today told a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, that Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs, her former errand boy, sold her property for N918m and used the money to fund his gubernatorial campaign in Akwa Ibom State.
Atiku made the revelation under cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr. Amos Ibe, in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Akpan-Jacobs, an ex-governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Abdulmalik Ibrahim and Dana Motors Nigeria Limited.
Atiku said she made Akpan-Jacobs the Managing Director of THA Shipping and Maritime Services Ltd, because he was a pastor and someone she trusted adding that Akpan-Jacobs went as far as collecting a huge loan from First Bank and used THA Shipping as collateral.
“He borrowed money from bank because he wanted to become the governor of Akwa Ibom and he used THA Shipping as collateral. And because he couldn’t pay back, the banks wanted to take over THA Shipping and that was why he was looking for buyer to sell the property to.
“He did this without the knowledge of the Board of Directors. He started selling the company’s properties when the bank started asking for their money. I did not know that it would turn out like this, I would have documented every penny.
“I admit I don’t have any documents to prove that I invested money into the company, Akpan-Jacobs, as a pastor cannot hold bible in court and deny that I did not invest money,” Atiku said.
Atiku further told the court that she made Akpan the Managing Director pending when her partner, Fred Holmes who had 25 percent shares in the company would finish his contract with Julius Berger.
“Akpan did everything on my behalf as I was still in the Civil Service as at that time. I could not leave my post then. Akpan gave me a breakdown of expenses to be incurred and I still have the breakdown, but he never signed it. Being the one with the largest share, I contributed N49m to buy the land situated at No 63A Amuwo Odofin Lagos, while my German partner Holmes, brought two cranes from Germany.
“He even at one point forged my signature. We put a Caveat Emptor on the property warning prospective buyers, but Dana Motors went ahead and bought the property claiming that they had an agreement with the Managing Director to collect back their money should any litigation arise.
“My lawyer later got to know that the property was sold for N918m, which Akpan claimed was used to offset the loan he collected from the bank and also pay off other loans,” Atiku said. Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye thereafter adjourned till July 6 for continuation of trial.
