A former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) executive director, Ezekiel Agaba, was guilty of N1.5 billion fraud belonging to the agency, a Federal High Court’s Lagos Division ruled on Wednesday.
The judge, Ibrahim Buba, sentenced the officer to seven years imprisonment on each of the seven charges, for a total of 49 years.
However, the sentences are to run concurrently.
“The sentence runs with effect from today (Wednesday),” Mr Buba added.
The judge said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant looted the sum of money from NIMASA when he was in charge of Maritime, Safety and Shipping.
The court declined to approve EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo ‘s claim for the forfeiture of properties that Mr Agaba supposedly purchased from the proceeds of the crime.
The court agreed with the lawyer for the defendant, E.D. Oyeneke, at the federal high court, claims the land is the subject of another lawsuit.
A witness said during the trial that Mr Agaba bought a land at Lekki for N70 million
Mr Oyeneke had earlier pleaded that the court ordered Mr Agaba to be transferred to non-custody. The lawyer said his client ‘s age places him at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 in prison.
Mr Buba did not grant the plea.
“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, counsel should consider approaching the state for pardon for the convict,” he added.
In 2015, the EFCC had arraigned Mr Agaba along with former NIMASA managing director Patrick Akpolobokemi; former NIMASA staff Ekene Nwakuche; and Delta State’s Ndokwa Local Government Area (LGA) chairman Juan Amechee for allegedly stealing N2.6 billion.
They pleaded not guilty.
Mr Akpobolokemi filed a no-case request but Mr Buba rejected it on 16 October 2017.
It was, however, was overturned by the Court of Appeal which unanimously discharged and acquitted the NIMASA boss.
After the ruling of the appellate court, the anti-graft body dismissed the allegations against Messrs Amechee and Nwakuche on 10 October 2019.
But the EFCC maintained an amended charge against Mr Agaba.
The Commission told the judge that between December 23, 2013, and March 13, 2014, in Lagos, Mr Agaba converted the N1.5bn in tranches of N437,726,666.60; N66,800,000; N21,802,000; N402,480, 000; N525,000,000; N70,000.000; and N176, 000,000.
The funds were laundered through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace Protehesis Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Limited and Aroward Consulting Limited.