NIMASA DG’S TRIAL: I got N600,000 out of N29M for usage of my account-Witness

By Lukman Olabiyi

Uchenna Emenalo, the sixth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi and six others, has revealed that he only got N600, 000 share out of N29 million transferred to his brother’s company account by the agency.
The witness gave account of the role he was assigned to play on the allegations of conversion and theft to the tune of N2.6 billion, preferred against the accused persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal Court, Lagos.
Akpobolokemi was docked along with the following; Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited, on a 22-count charge.
At the last hearing of the accused persons’ trial, the fifth prosecution witness, Emeka Emenalo, who is an elder to Uchenna, had informed that he did not solicit for N221 million that was paid into his company’s account by the agency.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the sixth prosecution witness under cross examination informed the court that he was paid the sum of N29 million for the contract he did not bid for by NIMASA.
Uchenna added that all he got as his share from the money was N600, 000, which he used for logistic anytime he comes to Lagos, as he resides in Owerri, Imo state.
The witness was led in evidence that by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, disclosed that he got the NAMASA contract through the third accuses person, Ekene Nwakuche, who was his classmate at University.
Uchenna also informed the court that when he heard that his friend (third accused) had secure a job with NIMASA, he called and told him that he should remember him whenever there is job, and in 2014, the third accuses called and asked him to send his company name and account details, and that he sent his brother’s company, O2 Services Company Limited.
The company that is solely manage by his brother, and only ddeals in agro services and construction but not security service.
He also further informed the court that the third accused person later called and told him that there was a contract but it was a security in nature.