A Federal High Court in Lagos, was Monday told how former managing director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, allegedly disbursed the N2.6 billion stolen by him.
Akpobolokemi, who was accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2 million, was arraigned 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.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed that the accused persons converted to their personal use N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28, this year. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
EFCC, which opened the trial yesterday, called its first witness, Teslim Ajuwon, who is the Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank responsible for enquiries from regulatory agencies such as EFCC, Police, NDLEA, among others.
The witness said he received enquiries from EFCC for a report of activities on some accounts, including Aruwo Consulting Ltd, Extreme Vertex Ltd, Southern Options Ltd, Green Lemon Services and Committee on ISPS, adding that the bank received a request to produce account opening package of the companies as well as their financial statement.
-Vanguard