Akpobolokemi, Atewe re-arraigned over N8.5b fraud

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and a former commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Emmanuel Atewe over N8.5billion alleged fraud. The duo who were charged alongside two staff of NIMASA, […]

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and a former commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Emmanuel Atewe over N8.5billion alleged fraud.

The duo who were charged alongside two staff of NIMASA, Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga were re-arraigned before Justice A.O Faji of a Federal High Court in Lagos on 22 counts amended charge.

Their re-arraignment was sequel to the transfer of the trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu from Lagos to the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High court.

After their plea were taken, defence counsels prayed the court to allow the accused to continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted them and Justice Faji granted the request.

The court had fixed February 13 and 17 for commencement of trial.

The EFCC, had alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using six companies.

At the last adjourned date, the anti- graft agency had examined a prosecution witness, Mr Adamu Yusuf, who told the court how the accused converted about N4.9 billion belonging to NIMASA into dollars.

The witness had told the court that the accused used different companies and accounts to launder billions of money from the account of the Joint Task Force operation.