Nigeria foremost anti-graft Agency,Economic and financial crime Commission,EFCC today arraigned two sets of officials alleged to have defrauded Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the tune of N645.4 million before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi south-west Nigeria.
In the first charge consisting of nineteen counts filed before the court by EFCC Head of Legal Department Gbolahan Latona,it was alleged that the former Acting Director General of NIMASA Haruna Baba Jauro, and personal Assistant to Patrick Akpobolokemi,Dr Dauda Bistrus Bawa and a Limited liability company Thlumbau Enterprises Limited converted N314.4million property of NIMASA into private use.
EFCC said the offence was committed between 6th January,2014 and 30th of May,2015 and violates sections 15(1)(3)and 18(a) of money laundering act,2012.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Thereafter the lawyer appearing for the accused persons M.I.Chawar urged the court to admit them to bail since the accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The EFCC prosecuting counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application. But he urged the court to impose conditions that will compel the accused to attend trial
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun Ishola,admitted the two accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties are to swear to affidavit of means and to produce three years tax clearance, while the third accused company is to produce N5million bond.
The case was adjourned till 17 May for trial.
In the same court, another set of accused persons was also arraigned.
In an eight count criminal charge , EFCC alleged that former Director of Maritime Labour and Sabotage Calistus Nwabueze Obi, Dismass Alu Adoon and two limited liability companies,Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited conspired to steal N331 million, property of NIMASA.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel Dr Joseph Nwobike, leading six other lawyers urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms as the accused persons were ready to produce credible sureties and they will come back to face trial.
Justice Olatoregun while adjourning till 17th of May, 2016 for trial, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties who must be resident within the juridiction of the court are to produce three years tax clearance and must swear to affidavit of means while the two companies are to produce N5million performance bond.
