A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed April 18 for continuation of the trial of former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others, charged with N2.6 billion theft.
Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the case which was earlier fixed for trial, to April 18. The adjournment was at the instance of the court. The judge said it was saddled with much workload and so fixed the continuation of trial on the next adjourned date.
Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Amaechi Juan and two companies, Blockz and Stonez Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistics Ltd, on a 22-count charge bordering on the offence. The accused were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Buba had granted them bail in the sum of N50 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
In the charge, the accused were said to have committed the alleged offences between December 2013 and March 2014. The prosecution alleged that in February 2014 in Lagos, the accused persons conspired to convert about N437 million belonging to NIMASA.
They were said to have on January 9, 2014 converted to their private use, about N66 million and between April and August 2014, converted the sums of N21 million and N53 million respectively, to their use.
The total sums of money allegedly converted by the accused is said to have amounted to about N2.6 billion. The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections, 15 (1), 15 (3) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Act.
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