Appeal Court Acquits Former NIMASA Boss Akpobolokemi

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos has acquitted a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, over an alleged fraud of N2.6bn.

The three-man appeal court panel upheld the no-case submission filed by Akpolokemi, after it was dismissed by a high court in October 2017.

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The court dismissed all the 22counts and overruled the decision of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court Lagos.

Yargatta Nimpar, the judge who read the lead judgment however held that other defendants who appealed the verdict alongside Akpobolokemi had a case to answer in relation to the charges.

However, the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo said the court’s ruling will appeal the decision immediately at the Supreme Court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in October 2015 arraigned Akpobolokemi and five others on a 22-count charge for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from NIMASA’s coffers between December 2013 and May 2015.

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Those charged alongside Akpolokemi were Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding that the funds were approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project tagged, “International Ship and Ports Security Code in Nigerian Ports” and diverted by the defendants.

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