A WITNESS, Mr Emeka Emelano, in the on-going trial of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that his company was used to obtain the sum of N72million from the agency. He also told the court that his company did not execute any contract for NIMASA to have necessitated payment of the money.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo,the witness said that his company specialises in Agro allied services and gets remuneration for its services through its bank accounts. He told the court that some time in 2015, his younger brother, one Uche Emelano sought to use his company to get a contract from NIMASA and told him that the contract would be got through the the third accused (Nwakuche).
Emelano is the fifth witness for the prosecution. Akpobolokemi, the immediate past NIMASA boss is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside six others, on 22 counts charge of conversion and theft to the tune of N2.6 billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
Others accused in the matter are: Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd. The accused had all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. Trial judge in the matter is Justice Ibrahim Buba.