At Last, Court Frees Akpobolokemi, E x-NIMASA DG on N8.5bn Fraud Allegation
By Our Reporter
It was a long awaited freedom for the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, as the Federal High Court, in Ikoyi, Lagos, discharged and acquitted him on N8.5billion fraud allegation.
The allegation was brough against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) over the years when he was prosecuted along with Major-General Emmanuel Atewe (rtd), a former Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation, Pulo Shield, and two other staff of NIMASA, Kime Engonzu and Josphine Otuaga.
The Presiding Justice Ayokunle Faji in his judgment delivered on Monday, while maintaining a no-case submission filed by Akpobolokemi and four other defendants in the 22-count charge filed by the EFCC, discharged and acquitted them.
Justice Faji in his judgement said that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against Akpobolokemi and four others.
But Justice Faji in his judgement ruled that the former Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe (rtd), (second defendant), and another Staff of NIMASA, Kime Engonzu (third defendant), should open their defence, saying they have a case to answer in respect of counts 12 to 22 of the charge.
Akpobolokemi’s counsel, Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN had prayed that his client be acquitted without having to be present in the court.
He argued that the EFCC Counsel even with all the evidence presented failed to link Akpobolokemi with all the alleged crime.
It would be recalled that the defendants were dragged to court over allegations of “conspiracy; conversion; and stealing (by fraudulent conversion”.
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