AN Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Mohammed Shehu, said, yesterday, that most of the contracts awarded at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, by the former Director-General, Mr. Raymond Omatseye, followed due process.

Testifying at the Federal High Court in Lagos, during the resumed hearing, the witness said the agency’s board was responsible for award of contracts until a tenders’ board was set up.

He said most of the contracts awarded during Omatseye’s tenure were handled by the board’s Secretary.

Shehu, a retiree and former Acting Director of Procurement at NIMASA, said the contracts he sent to Omatseye for approval were within his threshold.

He said: ”Based on the recommendations of the technical staff, I always endorsed the contracts because they fell within his (Omatseye’s) threshold.”

Testifying during cross-examination by Omatseye’s lawyer, Olusina Sofola (SAN), the witness said a contract awarded for generator was never executed.

”Money was never paid in respect of the generator. It was never executed during the tenure of the accused person,” he added.

On award of contract for supply of Blackberry mobile devices, Shehu said the NIMASA board approved it, and not himself.