EFCC arraigne ex nimasa DG and 9 others for N1.153 billion

Others are Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena,
Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Amechee
Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited
and Penniel Engineering Services Limited
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.
A committee on intelligence was established by
the agency   under the watch of Apobolokemi
with the second accused person, Captain  Agaba
as chairman. The committee allegedly received a
total sum of N1, 153,000,000 (One Billion, One
Hundred and Fifty Three Million Naira Only)
between December 2013 to July 2015.
In disbursing the sum, the accused persons
allegedly conspired and hired companies which
investigation revealed were neither  registered
nor have requisite capacity to provide such
services.
Investigation further disclosed that most of the
companies contracted were either nominated by
the accused persons or are directly owned by
them.
One of the counts read, “that you Patrick Ziadeke
Akpobolokemi, Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Ekene
Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi
Enisuoh, Governor Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick,
Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited and Penniel
Engineering Services Limited on or about 20th of
December 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction
of this court did conspire among yourselves to
commit an offence to wit; conversion of the sum
N1,153,000,000 (One Billion, One Hundred and
Fifty Three Million Naira Only) property of
Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency which sum was derived from stealing and
thereby committed an offence contrary to
section 18a of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) (Amendment)  Act 2012 and
punishable under section 15 (3) of the same
Act”.
After listening to the charge, the accused
persons pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel
Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court to remand the
accused person in prison and fix a date for trial.
Counsels representing the accused persons:
Joseph Nwobike SAN for the first and forth
accused persons, Lanre Olayinka for the second
and ninth accused persons, Pascal Made for the
third accused person, C.A Nmarkwe for the fifth
accused, Kayode Omoya for the eighth accused,
Ige Asemundara for the sixth accused and E.O
Ogbebor for the seventh and tenth accused
persons filed bail applications praying the court
to admit their clients to bail.
In opposing the bail application for the first
accused person,  Oyedepo filed a counter
affidavit praying the court not to grant the
defendant’s application. He argued that the first
defendant had jumped the administrative bail
granted to him by the Commission. He further
added that someone who could not honor
administrative bail should not be trusted to
honour bail granted by the court.
Oyedepo also told the court to refuse the bail
applications of all the other accused persons
based on the severity of the proof of evidence
before it.
Justice Salihu however admitted the first
accused person to bail in the sum of N100,000,
000 and two sureties. One of the sureties must
have a landed property in either Lekki, Ikoyi or
Victoria Island. The other surety must be in
either Federal of State government employment
not below the rank of Director.
The other accused persons were granted bail in
the sum of N50, 000,000 each with one surety in
like sum. One of the sureties must be in either
Federal of State government employment not
below level 16 and the other must have a landed
property within Lagos.
Justice Salihu adjourned the case to January 29,
2016 for the commencement of trial and ordered
that the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi
prison pending perfection of their bail terms.