The
trial of former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokeme and five
others currently standing trial for allegedly stealing the sum of N754.8
million, has taken a new dimension as the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decided to withdraw charges against three
of the defendants and made them its witnesses in an amended charge.
trial of former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokeme and five
others currently standing trial for allegedly stealing the sum of N754.8
million, has taken a new dimension as the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decided to withdraw charges against three
of the defendants and made them its witnesses in an amended charge.
In
the original charge filed before a Lagos high court, Akpolobokeme is
standing trial before the Court alongside Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba,
Vincent Udoye, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan and Captain
Adegboyega Olopoenia Shaib and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria
the original charge filed before a Lagos high court, Akpolobokeme is
standing trial before the Court alongside Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba,
Vincent Udoye, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan and Captain
Adegboyega Olopoenia Shaib and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria
However,
in the amended 12 counts charge dated November 1st, 2018 filed before
the court, three of the defendants, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee
Juan and Captain Adegboyega Olopoenia Shaib were removed from the new
charge and they were listed as additional witnesses in the attached
proof of evidence to the new charge to testify in the case.
in the amended 12 counts charge dated November 1st, 2018 filed before
the court, three of the defendants, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee
Juan and Captain Adegboyega Olopoenia Shaib were removed from the new
charge and they were listed as additional witnesses in the attached
proof of evidence to the new charge to testify in the case.
When the case was mentioned the EFCC legal officer Mr. Rotimi
Oyedepo, told the court presided over by Justice Raliat Adeniyi, that
the anti-graft agency had amended the charge before the court and
removed the names of Nwakuche, Governor Juan and Olopoenia from the
charge and make them prosecution witnesses based on emerging facts that
they are not culpable in the case, In
his reaction counsel to Governor Juan,Barrister Ige Asemudara, said
right from onset it was made known to EFCC that his client has no case
to answer, so there was no need for plea bargaining as it was being
insinuated,there was no time his client, Governor Juan and others had a
plea deal with the agency, rather it was the agency that spoke with his
client and others that the charge will be withdrawn against them and
later decided to make them prosecution witnesses. Withdrawing the charge
against him reinforces our position from the beginning that he ought
not to have been charged”.
Oyedepo, told the court presided over by Justice Raliat Adeniyi, that
the anti-graft agency had amended the charge before the court and
removed the names of Nwakuche, Governor Juan and Olopoenia from the
charge and make them prosecution witnesses based on emerging facts that
they are not culpable in the case, In
his reaction counsel to Governor Juan,Barrister Ige Asemudara, said
right from onset it was made known to EFCC that his client has no case
to answer, so there was no need for plea bargaining as it was being
insinuated,there was no time his client, Governor Juan and others had a
plea deal with the agency, rather it was the agency that spoke with his
client and others that the charge will be withdrawn against them and
later decided to make them prosecution witnesses. Withdrawing the charge
against him reinforces our position from the beginning that he ought
not to have been charged”.
Following the application to amend the charge, the Presiding Judge
Raliat Adebiyi While adjourning till 30th day of November,2018 for
continuation of trial struck out the former charge.
Raliat Adebiyi While adjourning till 30th day of November,2018 for
continuation of trial struck out the former charge.
