Job Not done: My company got N72m from NIMASA – witness

A WITNESS, Mr Emeka Emelano, in the on-going trial of
former Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick
Akpobolokemi, yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting
in Lagos that his company was used to obtain the sum of
N72million from the agency. He also told the court that
his company did not execute any contract for NIMASA to
have necessitated payment of the money.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi
Oyedepo,the witness said that his company specialises
in Agro allied services and gets remuneration for its
services through its bank accounts. He told the court that
some time in 2015, his younger brother, one Uche
Emelano sought to use his company to get a contract
from NIMASA and told him that the contract would be got
through the the third accused (Nwakuche).
Emelano is the fifth witness for the
prosecution. Akpobolokemi, the immediate past NIMASA
boss is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside six others, on 22
counts charge of conversion and theft to the tune of N2.6
billion between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
Others accused in the matter are: Captain Ezekiel Agaba,
Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies,
namely Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and
Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd. The accused had all pleaded not
guilty to the charges preferred against them. Trial judge
in the matter is Justice Ibrahim Buba.