Patrick Akpobolokemi, ex-director
general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has
been acquitted of a N2.6 billion fraud charge by the Lagos division of the
appeal court.
Yargatta Nimpar, judge of the
appeal court, upheld the no-case submission filed by Akpolokemi, after it was
dismissed by a high court in October 2017.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) had in October 2015 arraigned Akpobolokemi and five others on
a 22-count charge for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from NIMASA’s coffers
between December 2013 and May 2015.
The commission had said the funds
were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a
security project and the disbursement sanctioned by him.
Akpobolokemi was the head of
NIMASA at the time.
Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche,
Governor Juan, and two companies – Blockz and Stonz Ltd. and Al-Kenzo Logistic
Ltd are the four other defendants.
Following an appeal by the
defendants, the court of appeal discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi of the
entire 22-count charge.
The five other defendants were,
however, not discharged by the appeal court which upheld the high court’s
ruling that they had a case to answer.
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