Witness Exposes How Akpobolokemi, Others Allegedly Stole N795m
Olaoluwa Folalu
The twelfth witness in the ongoing trial of former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others, Orji Chukwuma, on Friday told the Federal High Court Lagos presided by Justice Ibrahim Buba, how the former DG and his co-accused stole the sum of N795,200,000 from NIMASA and converted same to their personal use.
Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside five others before honorable Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court Lagos for allegedly stealing the sum of over Two Billion Naira from NIMASA.
At the last adjourned date Orji disclosed how the former NIMASA boss and his cohorts converted the sum of over One Billion Naira from the Committee on International Shipping and Port Security, ISPS account to their personal use through six companies.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, Orji through an audio-visual presentation demonstrated graphically how another N943, 008,666 was laundered through a similar process of moving the funds through various accounts.
The prosecution witness disclosed that in the year 2014, Akpobolokemi through the office of the then National Security Adviser applied for the approval of the sum of N795,200,000 out of which the sum of N746,300,000 was diverted through shady companies and direct cash withdrawals.
In the Orji illustration, it showed that 94 percent of the total sum was siphoned through a grand conspiracy amongst the accused persons and their companies. He said only 6 percent of the money was accounted for.
The case was adjourned to 23rd and 27th May, 2016 for continuation of trial.
