The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and 10 others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N13 billion fraud.
The EFCC in an amended 22-count charge alleged that the defendants sometimes in 2014 in Lagos converted the summer N8, 537, 586, 798.58 property of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
They were also alleged to have between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015 converted to personal use the sum of N2,006,270,930.67 through Jagan Limited, property of NIMASA.
Docked alongside Atewe are former director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga.
They are being tried alongside seven companies: Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.
When the charge was read to them defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.
Also during Monday’s proceedings, an operative of the EFCC, Adamu Usman Yusuf, told the trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu that about N4.9 billion belonging to NIMASA was converted into United States dollars by the defendants and stolen.
Yusuf, who was being led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, also told the court that during investigation, it was discovered that the money was handed over to the 3rd and 4th defendants ( Engozu and Otuaga).
The witness also testified that “at the end of our investigation, we discovered that about N4.9 billion were converted into United States dollars and the money was handed to the 3rd and 4th accused persons”.
“We also recovered evidence, where the defendants acknowledged the receipt of the money and same was forwarded to forensic unit for expert opinion”.
Yusuf further informed the court that the defendants used a different companies and accounts to launder billions money from Joint Task Force operation account.
The companies are: Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-New link Integrated Services Ltd.
The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the alleged fraud between Sept. 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.
He said during investigation, letters of request were sent GTB bank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC bank, as well as First City Monument Bank (FCMB) demanding for account statements and operating documents of beneficiaries of the accounts.
Some of the counts read: that you Patrick Ziadeke Akopolokemi, Major General Josphine Otuaga between 5th days of September, 2014 and 22nd May, 2015 in Lagos converted the sum of N1, 147, 723, 362.42 through Jagan Trading Company Limited property of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amemdeent) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you Patrick Ziadeke Akopolokemi, Major General Josphine Otuaga, Kime Engozu and Josphine Otuaga within the jurisdiction of the court converted the sum of N1, 871, 795, 679. 14 through Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited, property of NIMASA”
The accused were also alleged to have between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015 converted to private use the sum of N 2, 006, 270, 930, .63 through Jagan limited, property of NIMASA contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amemdeent) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
In the charge, the anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of 605, 645, 750.00 million through Paper Warehouse limited.
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