I Didn’t Steal N2.6bn From NIMASA, Akpobolokemi Tells Court
A former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he never stole N2.6 billion from the agency while he was the helmsman.
Akpobolokemi, who is standing trial before the court for allegedly diverting N2.6bn from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013, and May 2015, was testifying in his own defence before Justice Ibrahim Buba.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Akpobolokemi and his co-accused: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited on December 4, 2015.
According to the commission, the money was approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project, tagged, “International Ship and Ports Security Code in Nigeria Ports.”
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
While being led in evidence by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Akpobolokemi explained how he handled a total of N2,365,600,000 released to NIMASA for a maritime security project by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The former NIMASA boss said that the then President Jonathan approved the release of N2.3bn for NIMASA in three tranches between 2013 and 2015 for the implementation of a maritime security project tagged, International Shipping and Ports Security code.
He said the funds were approved by Jonathan following a letter he (Akpobolokemi) wrote to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, occupied then by Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Akpobolokemi testified in his own defence before Justice Ibrahim Buba, where he is standing trial alongside the then Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Department, NIMASA, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba.
The other defendants in the case are Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited.
Akpobolokemi told the court that the idea of the ISPS code came from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States of America.
He said the security code was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, which requested all member states to implement it in order to forestall terrorist attacks like that of September 11.
He said the IMO gave a deadline to member states and was putting pressure on them to implement the security arrangement.
He said following this, he authored three letters, dated October 2, 2013, June 20, 2014 and April 15, 2015, to the Federal Government through ONSA.
According to him, the requested funds in the letters were approved by the President and released to NIMASA through ONSA.
Akpobolokemi said due to the technical nature of the project, he decided to constitute a committee, named ISPS Code Implementation Committee headed by Agaba.
He said the committee opened an account, into which funds for the project were released, adding that he was neither a member of the committee nor a signatory to the account.
The embattled ex-NIMASA boss said as soon as the funds were disbursed to NIMASA, he minuted on the letters instructing Agaba to carry out the directive from the Presidency.
Asked by his lawyer whether he had discretion to carry out the directive or not Akpobolokemi said, “The directive was from the Presidency and I would have been appropriately sanctioned if I ignored the directive.”
He said contrary to the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that the funds for the security project was diverted, the project was actually implemented with foreigners even commending NIMASA.
“I was satisfied that the ISPS Code project was well performed at least up till the time I left the agency,” Akpobolokemi said.
Justice Buba adjourned the case till February 13, 2018 for Akpobolokemi to conclude his testimony.
