Security agents on Monday re-arrested a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi , outside the Federal High Court premises in Lagos moments after his trial for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government was adjourned.
Policemen and plain clothes operatives swooped on Akpobolokemi and bundled him into a waiting bus soon after Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned trial to January 18, 2016.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the ex-NIMASA DG and three others on charges of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.
The others are – Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
In a 22-count charge, they were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 this year. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Akpobolokemi and nine others, including two companies, were earlier arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court on a separate charge of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA. They also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Nation learnt that Akpobolokemi, dressed in white, was released from prison custody at the weekend after perfecting the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Buba.
There was a mild drama as the operatives made to grab him as he left the courtroom. The defendant resisted the move, claiming that he was on bail.
But the security agents, who ignored his protests, overpowered and bundled him into a waiting bus to the bemusement of onlookers.
Effort by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), to intervene and prevent his client’s re-arrest was unsuccessful.
