Alleged N754.8m Fraud Trial of Former NIMASA DG: Court Fixes Date of Ruling

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has slated May 6th for the ruling of a fraud trial of former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and Ezekiel Bala Agaba.

The suspects were arraigned before Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi on Friday for an alleged N754.8 million fraud which continued today, March 18, 2022, with the trial judge reserving ruling for May 6, 2022, on an application filed by the prosecution seeking to have its next witness based in the United States of America to testify through electronic means.

The defendants, who are alleged to have defrauded NIMASA, were initially charged alongside Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Ekene Nwakuche, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd. before the charge was amended to involve only the two defendants.

At today’s sitting, the prosecuting counsel, Kufre Uduak, moved the motion of the prosecution seeking the witness, one Charles Aroawode Oboh, a Director in Aroward Nigeria Limited based in the United States of America, to give evidence through electronic means.