03 February 2016, Lagos – A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others, Uche Obilor, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how his three companies were paid N905.8million, by NIMASA under Akpobolokemi , for a contract he did not execute.
Obilor, Managing Director of Ace Prosthesis Limited, Seabulk Offshore Limited and Southern Offshore Limited told the court that the money was paid into the companies’ two bank accounts though he did not bid for any contract for NIMASA nor executed any.
Akpobolokemi is standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba alongside three others, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
In the charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, they were alleged to have converted the sum of N2.658billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
In his evidence-in-chief, Obilor, led by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said that the sum of N437million was paid to Ace Prosthesis Limited, while N402 million was paid to Seabulk Offshore Limited and N66.8 million was paid to Southern Offshore Limited respectively.
On how his companies got the contract, Obilor said that he was approached by Captain Ezekiel Agaba (2nd defendants) that his companies had been awarded a contract to assist NIMASA meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code for 2014.
– Vanguard
