The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday,
re-arrested the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, over
fresh allegations of fraud to the tune of N12, 905, 485.
The former DG was arrested shortly after his trial was adjourned by
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, where, alongside
five other individuals, he is facing criminal charges to the tune of
N2.3 billion.
Akpobolokemi’s arrest was on the strength of fresh evidence that he
allegedly converted N11, 737,854,485 and another N816,000,000, meant for
the development of the temporary site of the proposed Nigeria Maritime
University, Kurutie, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State,
for his personal use.
The suspect was said to have obtained a presidential approval of N13,
000,000,000 through the office of the then National Security Adviser to
President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki( retd) for the
acquisition and development of a temporary site for the Nigerian
Maritime University.
Of the total approved amount, N11,737,854,485 was allegedly paid into
a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemupolo,
a.k.a Tompolo.
A source in EFCC said that after the said money was paid, the DG
caused the sum of N6, 000,000,000 to be moved into another account
belonging to one of the associates of the indicted DG.
Also, the sum of N816, 000,000, allegedly obtained through a
presidential approval for the Voluntary International Maritime
Organisation Members State Audit (VIMSAS) implementation in Nigeria, was
diverted to Akpobolokemi’s personal use.
From the courtroom, the operatives moved the former DG to their detention centre where he is being quizzed.
Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment