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Akpobolokemi, others used NIMASA’ s intelligence gathering funds to buy massaging chairs –Witness

Patrick Akpobolokemi
Eyewitness Reporter
A Lagos Federal High Court on Wednesday heard how a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime and Administration Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and his management team recklessly spent the agency’s N18 million meant for intelligence gathering on massage chairs for themselves.
A prosecution witness, Mrs. Margaret Ekong, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told Justice Ayokunle Faji that she supplied the chairs to Akpobolokemi.
Ekong told the court that Akpobolokemi took delivery of three of the chairs allotted to him, adding that Akpobolokemi took one of the chairs to his Banana Island house, one to his mother’s house, and the last one to his house in Delta State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness also told the court that the second defendant in the case, Captain Bala Agaba, who is currently serving a seven-year jail term on fraud and breach of trust charges, took two of the chairs as well as others.
Mrs. Ekong further told the court that she was paid for supplying the massaging chairs with the money voted for intelligence gathering.
According to the witness, the chairs, were supplied in 2013 and payment was made in 2014 after a series of reminders.
When Oyedepo asked the witness where she got payment for the chairs from, Ekong replied that it was from NIMASA.
The ninth prosecution witness Ekene Nwakuche also testified and he claimed that all transactions were done through cash transfer or withdrawal were his responsibility.
Nwakuche said he joined NIMASA in 2013 and was seconded as a personal assistant to Agaba.
Nwakuche also told the court that the Access Bank branch on the ground floor of the NIMASA building in Apapa was the one the agency used for transactions.
Justice Faji adjourned till November 29, 30, and December 1, for the continuation of the trial.
Parts of the charges against the defendants read: “That you, Patrick Akpobolokemi and Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba on or about the 10th of July 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court converted the sum of N86Million, property of NIMASA which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.
“That you, Patrick Akpobolokemi and Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, on or about the 10th of July, 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court converted the sum of N18,080,000, property of NIMASA through Kachos Nigeria Limited, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 19 of the 1999 Constitution.
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Customs

Korea deepens collaboration with Nigeria Customs, fetes Adeniyi

Funso OLOJO
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea hosted a formal dinner on Thursday, 31 October 2024, in honour of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and members of his management team at the Embassy in Abuja.
 The event underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations and the shared objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Korean authorities.
CGC Adeniyi, accompanied by senior officers including Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) of Human Resource Development, Greg Itotoh, DCG of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, and DCG of ICT-Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, expressed his appreciation for Korea’s commitment to partnership. In his address, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the progress achieved through collaboration with the Embassy of Korea and other allied agencies, noting how these relationships have enhanced the NCS’s capacity to adopt advanced technologies.
“It is due to our dedicated partnerships that the NCS is now engaged in data analytics programmes, in alignment with World Customs Organization standards,” CGC Adeniyi stated. He elaborated on how these analytics enable the Service to make informed decisions, benefiting from predictive, descriptive, and prescriptive insights. “Learning from global leaders, like Korean Customs, has empowered us to adapt and refine our data-driven strategies,” he added.
The Korean Ambassador, His Excellency Kim Pankym, commended the CGC and his team for their dedication and expressed optimism about continued collaboration. “We are honoured by the Comptroller-General’s presence here tonight, and we look forward to further strengthening ties with the Nigeria Customs Service,” Ambassador Pankym said.
He emphasised the Embassy’s commitment to supporting the growth and modernisation of the NCS.
In his remarks, DCG Greg Itoto expressed the Service’s appreciation for Korea’s proactive engagement with NCS initiatives. “The Embassy’s support and willingness to partner with us are instrumental in driving our Service to greater heights.
“We look forward to continued growth through these collaborations,” Itotoh stated.
The evening reflected the deepening relations between the two nations and affirmed Korea’s dedication to Nigeria’s customs modernisation and capacity-building efforts.
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Oyebamiji, NIWA boss, assures international community of Nigeria’s irrevocable commitment to secure, safe waterways transportation 

Funso OLOJO
The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, has taken his campaign for safe and secure water transportation in Nigeria to the international audience in London where he reiterated the irrevocable commitment of the Authority to accident -free navigation on Nigeria’ s inland waterways.
Oyebamiji, who was  in London, attending the 46th Consultative Conference of Contracting Parties in International Maritime Organization, (IMO) Headquarters in the United Kingdom, vowed that no stone would be left unturned to champion the constitutional obligations of the Authority and achieve its mandate under the umbrella of Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the safety on Nigerian Waterways remains nonnegotiable as the Authority was irrevocably committed to nip in the bud the scourge of boat mishaps occasioned by noncompliance with the safety standards by the reckless boat operators and defaulters.
NIWA boss further disclosed said insights at the ongoing conference would further help to improve and develop Nigeria’s inland waterways for navigation as part of the cardinal objectives of the Authority.
Oyebamiji joined other stakeholders, intellectuals and experts in the maritime sector across the globe, where they are dissecting the topical issues bordering on Marine Geoengineering; Marine Litter and Microplastics and CO2 Sequestration in order to decisively tackle critical ocean challenges across the world.
According to him, by implementing the London Protocol, Nigeria can significantly advance its inland waterways sector, aligning it with sustainable international practices, protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening socio-economic benefits.
The Protocol which has serious implications on the Nigerian Maritime sector is centered on issues relating to inland waterways as it shapes environmental practices, safety and sustainability.
Some of the issues being deliberated on were; environmental protection; strengthened waste management practices; international compliance and standards; capacity building and training; enhanced monitoring and enforcement; support for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and health and livelihood support respectively.
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Headlines

Bello, Ex Kogi gov.,shuns court proceedings as EFCC seeks his trial in absentia

The Eyewitness Reporter 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC)on Wednesday October 30, 2024 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.

The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.

Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.

The court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.

Pinheiro told the court that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.

“A court can never demonstrate helplessness. That would be an indication of anarchy and society is based on the rule of law.

“The court demonstrating helplessness will negate the basis of the rule of law,” he said.

Arguing further, the EFCC’s counsel reminded the court that a defendant’s refusal to engage the court’s processes should not frustrate his trial, maintaining that justice is a three-way mechanism.

 “A criminal trial must not be held hostage, truncated or frustrated by a defendant’s refusal to engage the process.

“Justice is a three-way street:  justice to the defendant, justice to the prosecution who has assembled witnesses and justice to the society”.

Earlier in his submissions, he urged the court to enter a not guilty plea for Bello to pave the way for his trial contending that under Section 276 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, a defendant’s physical presence in court is not an absolute requirement for arraignment.

“The right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waived by the defendant,” adding that Bello’s absence should not impede the case.

“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence.

“The second point is, notwithstanding his physical absence, trial can proceed. What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence?

” Even if he was in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation would still be the same.

“The entry of a plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations”, he said.

In response, counsel for the defendant, Michael Adoyi, opposed the prosecution’s motion, citing a previous court order requiring the defendant’s presence before any applications could be entertained.

He emphasized that the application was contrary to the court’s directive issued earlier.

 “Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning, that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant,” he said.

Pinheiro rebutted Adoyi’s argument, urging the court to reject the defence’s position and proceed with the plea entry, assuring that it would not infringe on the defendant’s rights or affect the trial’s fairness.

Justice Nwite, after listening to both parties, noted that a ruling on the matter may not be possible within the current year due to court schedules.

 “It may not be possible to deliver this ruling this year”

 Pinheiro then proposed that the matter be adjourned for ruling and arraignment, which Justice Nwite granted, adjourning the case until January 21, 2025.

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