Mr. Kanu Idagu, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how some
committees were set up at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency as conduit pipes to steal money running into billions of Naira.
Idagu, an operative of EFCC, gave the evidence at the resumed trial of
Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of NIMASA, who is being
tried alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on money
laundering.
Others charged with him are Capt. Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix
Bob-Nabena, Capt. Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi
Alari.
Two companies — Al-kenzo Ltd. and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd are
also facing trial.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the witness told the
court that as head of the EFCC Special Task Force, he was in charge of
investigations and carries out searches and arrests.
He told the court that the commission received a petition in the last
quarter of 2015 about activities in NIMASA during the tenure of
Akpobolokemi as DG.
He said that his team embarked on investigations and discovered that
NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder
monies through companies and bureau de change.
He said that specifically, a committee on intelligence was set up and
headed by the second accused, with an Access bank account no. 0688939609
opened for the receipt of monies.
He said, “Between Dec. 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received
money in tranches running into 1.5 billion.
“The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the
Director of Finance and Accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds
were to be used for intelligence-based security activities.
“The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned
or nominated by NIMASA staff for their personal use.”
Idagu said one of such companies was Aler Integrated services Ltd. whose
alter ego was one Uche Obilor.
He said, “Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd., a bureau de change company
which the second accused instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10
million into.
“The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one
Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.
“The second accused also made a claim of a business contract between
NIMASA and one Kofa Fada Ltd., with the sum of N26 million transferred to
the companies’ account.
“While the dollar equivalent was handed to him.
“The second accused also transferred the sum of N86 million to one
Usseinian Ltd., and the dollar equivalent transferred to him.”
According to the witness, the third accused, Nwakuche who is the personal
assistant to the second accused, was asked to coordinate accounts for the
purpose of diverting money.
He said the third accused formulated an Enterprise Bank account in the
name of Adams CDA Global Services, belonging to one of his friends.
Idagu also claimed that the accused transferred into the account the sum
of N120 million, while the dollar equivalent was handed over to the second
accused.
The witness said the third accused also nominated an access bank account
for Gidoga Investment Ltd. with the sum of N65 million transferred into
same account.
Idagu said other accounts were opened in the names of companies such as
Ballon and Associates, KXM procurement Ltd, FBA Nasbela and Co, Crescent
Pillars and Co, as well as Penniel Engineering Services.
He said that in all, a total of N422, 680 million was directly transferred
to the second accused, who claimed that same was remitted to the first
accused.
After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor urged the court for an
adjournment to enable him to present documentary evidence.
Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to Dec. 15 and Dec.
19 for continuation of trial.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between December
2013 and July 2015 and converted over N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA to
personal uses.
The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a)
of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012.
(NAN)