The trial of the former NIMASA boss has continued with more staggering revelations of fraud that ravaged the maritime establishment.
A lawyer and businessman, Uche Obilor, Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that three of his companies received N905,800 million from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) without bidding for any contract.
He said the firms Seabulk Offshore Limited, Southern Offshore Limited and Ace Prothesis Limited were paid for a contract they never executed. He was testifying in the trial of a former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi, who was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) converting N2.6billion.
He was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million. Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with three others – Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan – and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, the youthful Rotimi Oyedepo, Obilor said he was approached by NIMASA to provide vessels for the implementation of an ISPS Code project.
Oyedepo asked:“Did you bid for the contract?”
The witness said: “We did not officially bid for the contract.”
The EFCC lawyer asked: “Did you execute the unofficial contract?”
Obilor responded: “The contract was not executed.”
According to the witness, the companies received letters of award of contracts although they did not submit any bids. He said the monies were paid before they got confirmation that they had been awarded the contract.
“When we had the letter of award, by then the monies had been paid upfront.
“We were later approached that we should stay action, and that we should remit the money to certain companies and individuals,” he said.
He said his companies got the following sums: Seabulk Offshore, N437million; Southern Offshore, N402million; and Ace Prothesis, N66.8million.