The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned for Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, PATRICK AKPOBOLOKEMI before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. AKPOBOLOKEMI and nine others are facing criminal charges involving one billion, one hundred and fifty-three billion naira. A statement released by the spokesman of the EFCC, WILSON UWUJAREN, named the other accused persons as Captain EZIEKIEL AGABA, and their two companies. Others are EKENE NWAKUCHE, FELIX BOB-NABENA, Captain WARREDI ENISUOH, GOVERNOR AMECHEE JUAN, UGO FREDERICK, TIMI ALARI, as all as Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited. They accused persons are facing a thirty-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and money laundering before Justice SALIHU SA’IDU.
The EFCC claims that the accused persons allegedly conspired to convert and launder several sums of money running into billions of naira under the guise of providing security intelligence around the maritime domain. At today’s hearing, Justice SALIHU admitted PATRICK AKPOBOLOKEMI to bail in the sum of one hundred million naira and two sureties. The other accused persons were also granted bail in the sum of fifty thousand naira each, with one surety in like sum. The case has been adjourned to 29th of January next for the commencement of trial, while the accused persons are to remain at the Ikoyi prison pending perfection of their bail terms.
