Lagos – A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday granted Patrick Akpobolokemi, the former Director-General of the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.
Presiding Justice Saliu Saidu who gave the order in his judgment ordered that one of the sureties must be an officer not below the rank of a Director in the civil service.
“The other surety must own a landed property in Ikoyi, Victoria Island or Banana Island,’’ he said.
Saidu , however, ordered that the accused should be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former NIMASA boss and seven others are facing a 30-count charge bordering on money laundering, conspiracy and theft of N3.41 billion.
The other accused persons include– Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Warredi Enisuoh and Amaechi Juan.
Others are: Fredrick Ugo, Timi Alari, and two companies—Al-kenzo Ltd. and Peniel Engineering services Ltd.
Saidu also granted the other accused bail in the sum of N50 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
He also ordered that one of the sureties must be an officer not below Grade Level 16 in the civil service and the other surety must be a blood relation of the accused.
The judge also ordered that all the sureties must deposit their passports with the court’s registry and adjourned the case to Jan. 29 for trial.
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The accused had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had urged the court to refuse the accused, especially, Akpobolokemi bail.
He said that the first accused had earlier jumped an administrative bail granted by the EFCC.
“ We will diligently prosecute the case against the accused, if the court refused the accused bail, and ask for an accelerated hearing,’’ he said.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between December 2013 and July 2015.
They were alleged to have converted the sum of N3, 406, 749, 500 belonging to NIMASA to their personal use.
Oyedepo said the offences contravened Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012.(NAN)
