Security operatives on Monday re-arrested a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, outside the premises of the Federal High Court on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Akpobolokemi was picked up by riot policemen and plain-clothes operatives, who bundled him into a waiting bus just as he stepped out of the court premises.
His re-arrest came shortly after his trial over alleged N2.6bn fraud before Justice Ibrahim Buba was adjourned till January 18, 2016.
Aside from his ongoing criminal trial before Justice Buba, the former NIMASA helmsman along with nine others faces another N3.4bn fraud charges and before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court, which had been adjourned till January 29, 2016.
Akpobolokemi, who was dressed in white on Monday, was released from custody on Friday after he perfected a bail of N50m granted him by Justice Buba.
He initially resisted the move of the operatives to pick him up again on Monday, claiming that he was on bail.
He was however pushed, overpowered and bundled into a waiting bus by security operatives, while his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), looked on helplessly.
Earlier at the proceedings, Justice Buba had adjourned, at the instance of the counsel for the 3rd, 5th and 6th accused persons, Mr. Seni Adio, who said he had just been briefed on the case over the weekend and needed time to study the case file.
Adio had reminded the court how the case was adjourned on December 7 till Monday to enable the 3rd, 5th and 6th accused persons to find another lawyer, after their original counsel, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, failed to show up in court on the grounds that he was going abroad for treatment.
“I don’t even have a copy of the charge; I have no document whatsoever,” Adio said, adding that he still needed time to interact with his clients, who were only released on bail from custody on Friday.
On his own part, counsel for the 2nd defendant, N.O. Balogun, also pleaded for an adjournment, saying he was also briefed over the weekend, after the former counsel, Mr. Madu Paschal, withdrew his representation on the grounds that he was planning a burial ceremony.
Similarly, counsel for the 4th accused, Ige Asemudara, also sought an adjournment.
Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Nwobike, however, said he was ready to go ahead with the case, but urged the court to grant an adjournment at the instance of Adio.
Prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Festus Keyamo, opposed the pleas for adjournment, urging the court to go ahead with the suit in staying with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
“This is one of the issues that this new law seeks to arrest; the law allows the court to take full control of its proceedings and not allow unnecessary delays at the instance of lawyers,” Keyamo said.
However, in a short ruling, Justice Buba adjourned the trial in view of new documents just served by the prosecution on the defendants and to allow Adio study the case file.
Facing trial alongside Akpobolokemi are Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited.
The 22 counts levelled against them bordered on conspiracy, theft, advanced fee fraud and money laundering.
The EFCC accused them of converting to their personal use, a total of N2,658,957,666, belonging to NIMASA, between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015, contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012.
Among other things, the anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused “induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795,200, 000 under the false pretence that the money represented the cost for the implementation of the International Ship and Ports Security Code in Nigeria Ports.”
About The Nigerian Blogger
0 comments :
Post a Comment