A businessman, Uche Obilor, on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos on how the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi awarded a contract of N905.8m to him without bidding.
Obilor who is a prosecuting witness alleged that the agency awarded the contract to his three companies, namely, Seabulk Offshore Limited; Southern Offshore Limited; and Ace Prosthesis Limited, adding that the contract sum was fully paid.
He, also revealed to the court the agency cancelled the contract even before the execution, adding that they were directed by the agency to transfer the money into personal accounts of some individuals and companies.
Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, Obilor told Justice Buba how his companies were approached by NIMASA to execute a contract involving the implementation of International Ship and Port Facility Security for the maritime agency.
He claimed that sums of N437m, N402m and N66,800,000 were paid into the bank accounts of Seabulk Offshore Limited, Southern Offshore Limited and Ace Prosthesis Limited respectively for the contract.
Obilor, who informed the court that his companies did not bid for the contract, also disowned all documents allegedly issued by his companies requesting for payment and the invoices issued in the name of the companies to NIMASA.
He said, “My Lord, the purported invoices did not emanate from our office.”
During cross-examination by Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, Obilor alleged that the N437m paid into the bank account of Seabulk Offshore Limited was later transferred down to N54m on Agaba’s instruction.
Denying that the N54m from the contract was the profit of his company from the deal, Obilor claimed that the money was retained to cover the tax implication of the company, adding that it had since been confiscated by the Federal Government.
Following the cross examination, Justice Buba consequently adjourned the matter till February 5 for continuation of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Akpobolokemi and five others before Justice Buba on a 22 count charge for allegedly perpetrating the scam between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.
Others arraigned alongside Akpobolokemi, include, Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
EFCC had alleged that the accused violated Section 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and were liable to punishment under Section 1 (3) of the Act.
They were also accused of violating Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act which they all pleaded not guilty to.
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