A prosecution witness in ongoing trial of ex -Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others, on Monday, gave graphical details of how the sum of N1, 000, 258, 666. 60 allegedly looted from the agency were shared.

The witness, Orji Chukuma Aosihiuwu, an operative of the anti-graft agency, Economic and the Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, testified before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Lagos Federal High Court.

The witness who is in the Special Taskforce Unit (STU) of the agency, identified all the defendants and gave account of the role played by each defendant in the N2. 6 billion scam.

Akpobolokemi, alongside the agency’s ex-Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Ezekiel Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited, are standing trial before the court on alleged N2.6 billion fraud.

They are being prosecuted for alleged converting N2. 6 billion between December 23, 2013, and May 28 last year, to which they pleaded not guilty.

In his testimony before the court, the witness said on October 2, 2013, Akpobolokemi wrote letter to the then President Goodluck Jonathan through the National Security Adviser (NSA) Rtd Col. Sambo Dasuki to release the sum of N 1, 123, 400, 000, for the implementation of International Ships and Port facility Security (ISPS) project.

He stated further that on November 4, 2013, the monies were released by the federal government for the project, it was transferred to NIMASA and it was later transferred to account of ISPS committee opened at Access Bank and the signatories to that account is Agaba who do took order from Akpobolokemi.

The witness further stated that out of N1, 123, 400, 000. 00, released for the project, the sum of N1, 000, 258, 666. 60 were allegedly converted by Akpolobokemi and his accomplices’ to their personal use.

He also gave account of how the funds were shared among six companies.

The companies and the sum shared were; Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd- 437, 726, 666.00, Ace Prothesis Ltd- N66, 800, 000.00, Extreme Vertex Nig Ltd- 21, 802, 000.00, O2 Services Plus Ltd- N14, 200, 000. 00, Southern Offshore Ltd- N402, 480, 000. 00, Caniz Limited – N12, 250, 000. 00. While the sum of N 45, 000, 000 were withdrew from the ISPS account by the accused.

The witness said the first defendant, Akpobolokemi prior to his appointment as the DG of NIMASA, was a lecturer at the Niger/Delta University, and second defendant, Agaba was a staff of an oil company; Mobil, the third defendant, Nwakuche is a staff of NIMASA and owner of the two companies; Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited docked along with the accused, while forth defendant was also an ex-worker of Mobil before his appointment in NIMASA.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourn till April 29.

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