N1.2bn Fraud: Witness Narrates How He Delivered $15M Cash To Ex-NIMASA DG

A prosecution witness has narrated to a Federal High Court in Lagos how he personally delivered $15 million in cash to a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

The witness, Captain Ezekiel Bala-Agaba, a former Executive Director at NIMASA, testified for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of Akpobolokemi before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

Bala-Agaba alleged that funds meant for pipeline surveillance were withdrawn from NIMASA’s accounts, converted into dollars at a Bureau de Change, and handed over to Akpobolokemi at the agency’s Burma Road Lagos office.

The EFCC had initially arraigned Akpobolokemi, Bala-Agaba, and six others before the court in 2015 on a 30-count charge of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds, and money laundering.

The other defendants are Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, as well as Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.

They were accused of converting a total of N2.6 billion for their use between December 23, 2013, and May 28, 2015.

The anti-graft agency has maintained that the offences contravened sections 15(1), 15(3), and 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

All pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, during the trial, the anti-graft agency withdrew charges against Bala-Agaba and turned him into a prosecution witness.

While giving evidence, led by prosecutor Suleiman Suleiman, the witness testified that he personally delivered the money after instructing his Personal Assistant to carry the cash in a bag.

Bala-Agaba also described the chain of command within NIMASA and the process of financial approvals.

He informed the court that he had chaired the agency’s Intelligence Committee, responsible for security operations, and that he had reported directly to the Director-General, Akpobolokemi.

A document from Access Bank listing transactions from 2013 to 2015 was shown to the court. Agaba confirmed that he delivered $15 million to Akpobolokemi.

Justice Faji adjourned the matter until 22 and 23 April for the continuation of the trial.

The EFCC alleged in the charge that the defendants conspired to divert over N1.15 billion under the guise of providing security intelligence in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The anti-corruption agency also claimed that the NIMASA Intelligence Committee received N1,153,000,000 between December 2013 and July 2015.

It was further alleged that investigations revealed numerous companies contracted to carry out the intelligence operations were either unregistered or lacked the capacity to perform these services, with some allegedly linked to the defendants.

The prosecution also accused the defendants of nominating or owning many of the companies used for the contracts.