Nigeria’s anti-graft agency Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) has revealed the details of the monumental financial fraud committed by Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, the former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, in league with Government Ekpemupolo and others.
The agency made the revelations in a counter-affidavit to the request for bail by Akpobolokemi. EFCC spilled the beans and told the court that rather than grant him bail, the court should order for his accelerated trial .
In the affidavit filed by EFCC investigating officer, Yinusa Abubakar, Akpobolokemi was said to have diverted billions of naira, property of NIMASA into his personal account, those of his cronies and portfolio companies.
Akpobolokemi was alleged to have persuaded the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through the office of National Security Adviser to approve the release of N1.24 billion on the pretence that the money was meant to bankroll the implementation of the International Ship Port Facility Security (ISPS). After the approval, Akpobolokemi, in concert with his cronies transferred the funds to the accounts of Extre Vertex Nigeria Ltd, Kofar Fada Ltd, Alkenzo Logistics Ltd,and O2 Services Plus Ltd, which in turn gave him dollars equivalent through his cronies.
He was also alleged to have fraudulently sought and obtained the approval of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through the same National Security Adviser for the release of N498milion being the purported cost of the implementation of VIMSAS Nigeria. Again, Akpobolokemi allegedly laundered the money through Ansta ventures,Lakewood Gardens Venture Ltd,Kofar Fada Nigeria Ltd,which in turn converted the money to Dollars and delivered same to him.
Other frauds alleged to have been perpetrated by Akpobolokemi include the payment of N132.6 million between 2012 and 2015 to Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, contrary to the agreement between the two parties.
The money was taken from the sea protection levy generated by NIMASA.
On the 23rd of May 2013 and 20th of August 213 he fraudulently received N200 million through a company called Odimiri Eletricals Ltd with UBA account number 1002345863 opened and operated by him and one Kime Engozu
Mr Abubakar averred further that in another grand conspiracy with the management of Mieka Dive company, the company obtained by false pretence the sum of N11.94billion from NIMASA on the pretence that the said money represented part payment for the acquisition of a property situated at Kunute Okerenkoko Warri South,Delta State. The property was said to be free from encumbrances and owned by Mieka Dive.
Out of the sum paid to Mieka Training institute by NIMASA,the company between 2nd of December,2014,and 23rd February,2015 transferred N5,400,000,000. to Oyeinteke Global Network Nigeria Ltd account number 1018325345 domiciled with UBA. Oyenteke Global Network is owned by Kime Engozu,his close associate.
The sum of N3,900,000,000. out of N5,400,000,000,paid to the company was in turn transferred to the account of companies belonging to the cronies of the former NIMASA boss as follows:
* Bolobolere Properties Estate Ltd. with account number 1013983247 domiciled with Zenith bank Plc N900,000,000.
*Gokia Marine Oil and Gas limited with account number 1771258695 domiciled with Skye bank Plc. N200million.
*Wabod Global Resources Ltd. account number 1018826127 domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA)-N2,800,000,000
Out of the sum of N3,133,471,886.29 transferred to Bolobolere Properties and Estate limited the sum of N982,196,000. was used to acquire buildings and landed properties at Banana Island while his relations and companies received the sum of N56,800,000 shared as follows:
*Dat-Pegip Nigeria Ltd- N6,800.000
* Akpobolokemi Julius N20million
*Watershed Associates resources company N30,million. Out of the sum transferred to Wabod Global Resources the sum of N300million was used to acquire properties at Banana Island while his relations received N15,100,000
*Akpobolokemi Victor-N4,500,000
*Akpobolokemi Emmanuel Ebizimo-N5million
*Akpobolokemi Clement-N600,000.
A front company for his wife Benemo Ltd also received N15million.
Out of money paid into the account of Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Company account in Skye bank his relations, Akpobolokemi Victor received N10million while his wife ,Beauty Timi received N1,700,000. Timi Beauty also got N3million from Mieka Dive Ltd.
Abubakar also averred that Patrick Akpobolokemi whilst being the Director General of NIMASA, in a grand conspiracy with the other co-accused persons without the mandatory approval of the accountant General of the Federation opened accounts numbers 0688939609 and 006055559139 at Access Bank in the name of committee on intelligence and committee on ISPS respectively.
Upon opening the said accounts, N1.153 billion was transferred to them, but the money was converted by the former NIMASA boss and other co-accused persons for their personal use.
In a desperate bid to succeed in converting the said sum, he and his cronies forged various documents to the finance and Administration Department of NIMASA,but the purported makers of the document have denied issuing the Documents.
Currently, three criminal charges have been filed against Akpobolokemi and other co-accused persons including about seven companies alleged to have been involved in conversion of billions of naira.
Akpobolokemi and others have been arraigned in respect of two other charges number FHC/496C/15 pending before Justice Saliu Saidu and FHC/511C/15 before Justice Ibrahim Buba. The third criminal charge number FHC/L/553C/15 is also before Justice Ibrahim Buba.
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