executive director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, in the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to seven
years jail term for N1.7billion fraud.
The convict was prosecuted on seven-count amended charges, bordering on
criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, following a 2015
intelligence report of fraud in NIMASA and subsequent investigations
that unearthed several suspicious transactions to the tune of
N1,699,808,666.60, traced to him.
One of the charges read: “That you, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba between
the 23rd of December, 2013, and 13th of March, 2014 in Lagos, within the
jurisdiction of this court, converted through Seabulk Offshore Operator
Ltd, the sum of N437,726,666.60 (Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million,
Seven Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Naira,
Sixty Kobo), the property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part
of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of
trust and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the
Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under
Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Another charge read: “That you, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba on or about
the 6th of November, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this
court, converted through Extreme Vertex Nigeria Ltd, the sum of
N525,000,000.00 (Five Hundred and Twenty-five Million Naira), the
property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,
which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of
your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering
Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of
the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, upon arraignment, prompting his
trial.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in the course of the trial, argued
that funds released by the Presidency through the Office of the National
Security Adviser, for the International Ship and Port Facility Security,
ISPS code activities in 2014, of which Agaba was its committee Chairman,
was diverted by him through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace
Prosthesis Ltd, Southern Offshore Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Ltd
and Aroward Consulting Ltd.
“These companies were basically used to receive the funds and in most
cases transfer the funds as directed by the defendant to various
companies and individuals either for the purchase of United States
Dollars or landed property or stock,” he said.
Oyedepo invited 12 witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence,
which was admitted by the court as exhibits.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Buba held that the prosecution
proved its case against beyond every reasonable doubt and sentenced the
defendant to seven years imprisonment on each count, which is to run
concurrently.