THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe for alleged N8 billion fraud.
Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged along with former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
The charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.
The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to defraud NIMASA of N8.5billion using six companies – Jagan Limited, Jagan Trading Company Limited, Jagan Global Services Limited, Al-Nald Limited, Paper Warehouse Limited, Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited and De-Newlink Integrated Services Limited.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Defence counsel including Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to grant the defendants bail.
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