Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Callistus
Obi. Also convicted was Alu Dimas, an aide to Patrick Akpobolokemi, a
former Director-General of NIMASA. They were convicted by Justice
Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi.
The convicts were arraigned alongside two companies, Grand Pact Limited
and Global Sea Investment, on April 12, 2016 on an eight-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, conversion, and money laundering to the tune of
N136million (One Hundred and Thirty Six Million Naira).
The prosecution proved that the convicts converted the sum of money,
N136million, belonging to the Agency to their personal use on August 5,
2014.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Callistus Nwabueze Obi and Dismas
Alu Adoon, on or about the 5th day of August 2014, in Lagos within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves
to commit an offence to wit: Conversion of the sums of N111, 000, 000.00
(One Hundred and Eleven Million naira) property of NIMASA, knowing that
the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby commited an
offence.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them,
thereby leading to their trial.
In the cause of the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses and
tendered several documents, which were admitted in evidence by the
court.
At the resumed hearing today, Justice Olatoregun discharged and
acquitted the defendants of the charge of conspiracy preferred against
them.
The Judge, however, convicted them of conversion and money laundering.
The Judge said: “The prosecution has proved the charges preferred
against you beyond reasonable doubt with evident conversion and money
laundering of N136million”.
Justice Olatoregun, however, deferred sentencing to May 28, 2019 and
ordered that the convicts be remanded in prison custody.