By Onozure Dania

Lagos—A prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission, EFCC Teslim Ajuwon told a Lagos state High Court sitting at Igbosere of how the sum of N1.5billion was transferred from Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency NIMASA into various companies account.

Former DG of NIMASA, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi (centre) being led out of court after his arraignment by EFCC in Lagos.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba,  Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega Sahib Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

The 1st to 5th  defendants (Akpobolokemi, Captain Agaba, Nwakuche, Juan, Udoye) were alleged to have between October 30, 2014 and May 6, 2015 converted to their personal use N346,844,680.00 property of NIMASA released to them for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

They are standing trial on a 13-counts bordering on stealing and  forgery, preferred against them by EFCC.

The witness who was testifying before Justice Raliat Adebiyi said that  the money was transferred into various accounts.

Ajuwon who is a compliance officer of a new generation bank, told the court that on 29 of August 2014, there was a transfer of the sum of N498.2 million into the account of committee of VIMSAS account.

He further stated that on May 20, 2015, N318 million was also transferred from NIMASA into the account of VIMSAS.

The witness who was led in evidence by the EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Oyedepo stated that  on the 15 of September 2014, there was a transfer of the sum of N8.5,50,000 into the account of Auster Ventures account.