How Ex-NIMASA DG, Akpobolokemi Laundered N11.3bn Through Varsity Lecturer – EFCC
Editor
Posted On May 27, 2016
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Orji Chukwuma yesterday told a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere how N11,316,295,549.29 was allegedly transferred from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) into accounts operated by a lecturer of the Niger Delta University (NDU), John Simon Adomene.
Chukwuma, who is a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Lagos lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), told the court that Adomene later laundered the money on behalf of an ex-Director-General NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Chukwuma, an operative of the commission with investigative duties, testified yesterday as the third prosecution witness in the trial of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr. Joseph Nwobike.
Nwobike is facing a five-count charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice and offering gratification to a public official before Justice Raliat Adebiyi.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The witness, while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that in 2015, the commission received intelligence of “A monumental fraud perpetrated in NIMASA.”
“In the course of the investigation, it was revealed that one John Simon Adomene, a staff of Niger Delta University was used by the D-G of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi to perpetrate this fraud.
“Subsequently, efforts were made to trace accounts linked to John Adomene and companies linked with him,” Chukwuma said.
The witness also listed the companies to include Wabod, Global Resources Ltd, Gokiad Marine Services, Boloberi Properties and Estate Ltd.
He said, “We traced billions of Naira in accounts and properties to these companies which were merely fronts for Dr. Akpobolokemi”.
