An embattled former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is currently undergoing several criminal trials in various courts in Lagos, yesterday lost control in the premises of the Federal High Court; threatening to slap one of the female journalists covering his trial.
It began when he stepped out of Justice Ibrahim Buba’s courtroom, set eyes on the journalist and promptly lunged for her camera, knocking it down.
He was then captured on camera threatening to slap the journalist, who repeatedly answered, “You cannot slap me sir.”
Akpobolokemi threatened to kill the journalist, a female, and another colleague who was pointed out to him as her boss.
“They said you are the one that sent the girl to be taking pictures. I will kill the both of you,” he shouted as the other journalist tried to pacify him.
Akpobolokemi is currently before Justice Buba, responding to 40-counts of money laundering and conversion of public funds brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Before the same judge, he is also facing another N2.6bn fraud allegation, alongside Captain Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan, and three companies – Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd, Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.
Elsewhere before Justice Saliu Saidu, Akpobolokemi is facing another N8.5bn fraud allegation said to have been committed in NIMASA between 2014 and 2015; as well as yet another N19.7billion case in which he is charged along with two others.
The ex-NIMASA boss, along with his siblings and Government Oweize Ekemupolo (aka Tompolo) are in the criminal suit FHC/L/C/31c/2016 alleged to have illegally obtained over N47.6billion, being funds of the federal government of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that in March 2016, Akpobolokemi lost a preliminary objection in which he challenged the jurisdiction of Igbosere High Court in Lagos to hear his alleged theft of N754.7 million.
In May of the same year, an operative of EFCC chronicled how Akpobolokemi, in connivance with John Simon Adomene, a lecturer at the Niger Delta University, diverted the sum of N11.3 billion.
Another witness, Chima Anyasor, has also testified that Patrick Akpobolokemi paid him N342.5m for a job he did not do.
In December 2015, Akpobolokemi was involved in a physical scuffle with security operatives while resisting arrest.
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