How Agaba, Ex-NIMASA Director, Was Jailed 7 Years over N1.5bn Fraud
A former Director with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Captain Ezekiel Agaba, has been jailed seven years in prison over money laundering fraud to the tune of N1,541,408,666.
Agaba who has been on trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos on allegation of money laundering brought against him by the by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was found guilty on each of the seven counts.
He was failed for 49 years but Justice Ibrahim Buba ruled that the sentences will run concurrently.
He was found guilty of conversion and criminal breach of trust while he was in charge of Maritime, Safety and Shipping.
The court had in its ruling declined the prayer of the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, that the former Director should forfeit his property which was acquired with the proceeds of the laundering.
This was however as the property, according to Agaba’s lawyer, Mr. E.D. Oyeneke, was a subject of another case in the Federal High Court.
Buba upheld the submission of the Agaba’s counsel Mr. E.D. Oyeneke, that the property is the subject of another suit at the Federal High Court.
Agaba was arraigned along with former DG, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, former NIMASA staff, Ekene Nwakuche, Juan Amechee Governor for allegedly laundering N2.6 billion.
It would be recalled that Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission was dismissed by Buba but overturned by the Appeal Court which also discharged and acquitted him in 2016.
The EFCC had October last year withdrew the case against Nwakuche in line with the Appeal Court decision.
However, the charges against Agaba was amended.
He was found guilty of converting and laundering the sum of N1.5 bn in tranches of N437,726,666.60, N66,800,000, N21,802,000 and N402,480, 000.00, N525,000,000, N70,000.000 and N176, 000,000 through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace Protehesis Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Limited and Aroward Consulting Limited.
The was between December 23, 2013, and March 13, 2014.
Agaba who has been on trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos on allegation of money laundering brought against him by the by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was found guilty on each of the seven counts.
He was failed for 49 years but Justice Ibrahim Buba ruled that the sentences will run concurrently.
He was found guilty of conversion and criminal breach of trust while he was in charge of Maritime, Safety and Shipping.
The court had in its ruling declined the prayer of the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, that the former Director should forfeit his property which was acquired with the proceeds of the laundering.
This was however as the property, according to Agaba’s lawyer, Mr. E.D. Oyeneke, was a subject of another case in the Federal High Court.
Buba upheld the submission of the Agaba’s counsel Mr. E.D. Oyeneke, that the property is the subject of another suit at the Federal High Court.
Agaba was arraigned along with former DG, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, former NIMASA staff, Ekene Nwakuche, Juan Amechee Governor for allegedly laundering N2.6 billion.
It would be recalled that Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission was dismissed by Buba but overturned by the Appeal Court which also discharged and acquitted him in 2016.
The EFCC had October last year withdrew the case against Nwakuche in line with the Appeal Court decision.
However, the charges against Agaba was amended.
He was found guilty of converting and laundering the sum of N1.5 bn in tranches of N437,726,666.60, N66,800,000, N21,802,000 and N402,480, 000.00, N525,000,000, N70,000.000 and N176, 000,000 through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace Protehesis Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Limited and Aroward Consulting Limited.
The was between December 23, 2013, and March 13, 2014.
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