A
witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adamu
Usman Yusuf, Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos southwest
Nigeria how about N4.9 billion was converted into United States
dollars by a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi
and other accused charged with money laundering.
Akpobolokemi
is standing trial alongside a former Commander of the Military Joint
Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, Major General
Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over N13 billion
fraud.
Adamu
Usman while been led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo,
told the court that during investigation, it was discovered that the
money was handed over to the 3rd and 4th accused (Engozu and Otuaga).
Adamu
told the trial judge, Saliu Saidu that “at the end of our
investigation, we discovered that about N4.9 billion was converted
into United States dollars and the money was handed to the 3rd and
4th accused persons”.
“We
also recovered evidence, where the defendants acknowledged the
receipt of the money and same was forwarded to forensic audit unit
for expert opinion”.
Yusuf
told the court that the defendants used different companies and
accounts to launder billions of money from Joint Task Force operation
account.
The
companies are: Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global
Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated
Services Ltd and De-New link Integrated Services Ltd.The accused
committed the alleged offence of fraud between Sept. 5, 2014 and May
20, 2015.
He
said during the investigation, letters of request were sent to GTB
bank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC bank, as well as
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) demanding for account statements and
operating documents of beneficiaries of the accounts.
The
witness made a power point presentation to the court to corroborate
his evidence.
Before
the commencement of trial today, the EFCC in an amended 22-count
charge filed before the court alleged that the accused sometime in
2014 in Lagos converted the sum of N8, 537, 586, 798.58 property of
NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) (Amemdeent) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section
15(3) of the same Act.
They
were also alleged to have between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015
converted to personal use the sum of N2,006,270,930.67 through Jagan
Limited, property of NIMASA.
Some
of the counts read: That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major
General Emmmanuel Atewe, Josphine Otuaga Kime Enzogu between 5th days
of September, 2014 and 22nd May, 2015 in Lagos converted the sum of
N1, 147, 723, 362.42 through Jagan Trading Company Limited property
of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) (Amended) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3)
of the same Act.
“That
you Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe
,Josphine Otuaga, and Kime Engozu within the jurisdiction of the
court converted the sum of N1, 871, 795, 679. 14 through Eastpoint
Integrated Services Limited, property of NIMASA”
The
accused were also alleged to have between September 5, 2014 and May
20, 2015 converted to private use the sum of N 2, 006, 270, 930, .63
through Jagan limited, property of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a)
of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amended) Act, 2012 and
punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
In
the charge, the anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused
conspired to defraud NIMASA of N605, 645, 750.00 million through
Paper Warehouse Limited.
When
the charge was read to all the accused persons they all pleaded not
guilty.
The
offence is also said to have contravened the provisions of Section
390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C. 38, Laws of the Federation,
2004.
The
matter has been adjourned till February 3, 2017 for continuation of
trial.
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