Shameful! Drama As EFCC Operatives Whisk Ex-NIMASA Boss Away From Court Premises

Have you stolen Nigeria’s money? You better return it now.
Sai baba is leaving no stone unturned. Oh, don’t say I didn’t tell you. Oh the
mighty are now falling! Say Hi to the new Nigeria people…lol. Oh dear, report
culled from PM News;

There was confusion and commotion today, in a manner
reminiscence of an action packed western movie as the detachment of mobile
policemen accompanied by Economic and Financial Crime commission (EFCC)
operatives stormed the premises of Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest
Nigeria to effect the arrest of the former Director General of Nigeria Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi.

The embattled former Director General of NIMASA who has been
arraigned before two different courts of the federal high court on charges of
stealing and conversion of money running into billions of naira was just coming
from a court presided over by justice Ibrahim Buba, where one the cases was
adjourned till 18th January, 2016 for trial and was about to enter his car
outside the court when he was accosted by two EFCC operatives and two armed mobile
policemen.

Thereafter the encounter degenerated to a scuffle, the armed
policemen then called for reinforcement, when he resisted arrest and tried to
overpower them, the mobile policemen, about four who have been in hiding came
out to join their colleagues.

They then overpowered him and forcefully bundled him into a
waiting Kombi bus and whisked him away to the bewilderment and astonishment of
his lawyers who helplessly watched the whole scenario.

Prior the incident, Justice Ibrahim Buba had adjourned till
18th January for the trial of the accused person to commence, after Dr Joseph
Nwobike SAN leading seven other lawyers, on behalf of other counsels appearing
for three other accused persons urged the court to adjourn the case to enable
them study the case file since they have just being briefed, noting that, the
EFCC have just served them addition proof of evidence in the open court today.

The EFCC prosecutor Mr Festus Keyamo did not raise any
objection.

In the first case Akpobolokemi was arraigned with three
other accused persons and three companies over an alleged stealing and
conversion of N2,659,457,666.00.

In a twenty-two count criminal charge number FHC/L/511C/15
signed and filed before the court by the EFCC prosecutor Barrister Festus
Keyamo, it was alleged that Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Captain Ezekiel Bala
Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Amechee Juan with intent to defraud and
conspire together to induce the Federal Government of Nigeria to approve and
deliver to NIMASA the sum of #2,659,457,666.60 under the false pretense that
the said sum represented the cost for the implementation of the International
Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code in Nigeria Ports thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under sections 8(a) 1(3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and other Fraaud Related Offences Act,2006.

All the accused persons were also alleged to have conspired
with these three companies BLOCK AND STONZ LTD, KENZO LOGISTICS LIMITED, AND
AL-KENZO LOGISTICS LTD to commit the offence thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering Act 2012 and punishable under
section 15(3) of the same act.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty, consequently Dr
Joseph Nwobike SAN leading seven other lawyers while arguing their bail
application urged the court to admit them to bail on the ground that they are
presume innocent until they are found guilty.

They were admitted to bail in the sum of #50 million with
one surety who must possess landed property worth #50million the accused must
deposit their international passport with the court as the are also ban from
travelling outside the country.