Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is currently facing trial over alleged fraud Wednesday told a Lagos Federal High Court, Lagos, that he did not seek approval of Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to open some official bank accounts for the agency during his tenure.
Akpobolokemi made the submission while being cross-examined by Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution’s counsel.
Being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with five others, the former boss said as the DG of the agency, then, he was in charge of overall affairs of the agency based on the mandate given to him by the Federal Government.
He also told the court that the bank account opened for the committee on International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) where the sum of N795,200,000 that was transferred from the NIMASA’s bank account was lodged, did not have approval of Accountant-General of the Federation before it was opened.