THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday closed its case in the trial of former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Calistus Obi over alleged diversion of funds.
Obi was arraigned in April on eight counts of converting N378,810,000 from NIMASA along with Dismass Alu Adoon, Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited.
His lawyer Wole Akoni (SAN) said his client might make a no-case submission, in which no witnesses would be called by the defence.
Obi was arraigned on the same day as another former acting NIMASA D-G, Haruna Jauro, who was accused of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.
Jauro, who was NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, had opted to enter a plea bargain with EFCC, the process of which is still ongoing.
Obi, a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from former D-G Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is facing five separate fraud and theft charges. Obi acted for about a week before he was replaced by Jauro.
Obi, Global Seal and Grand Pact were said to have converted N42,755,000.00 on December 24, 2013. On May 2, 2013, he converted N25,000,000, as well as N46.3 million between April 1 and December 11, 2014.
EFCC said the money was proceed of stealing. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Yesterday, prosecution counsel Mr. Nkereuwem Anana said EFCC had no more witnesses to call.
While being cross-examined by defence counsel Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), the last prosecution witness, an EFCC investigator, Mr. Chukwuma Orji, said Obi was not signatory to NIMASA’s Access Bank Plc account.
Orji said: “The first accused is not a signatory to the account, but the mandate card bears his picture.”
Referring the witness to counts one to four of the charge, Akoni asked if any part of the N111 million mentioned in one of the charges was traced to Obi’s account.
Orji answered: “I traced the monies to the two accused in the dock.”
The witness added that a bureau de change operator handed the money to Adoon, who passed it to Obi.
The witness said: “My Lord, Exhibit T8 clearly shows how the said amount of money left NIMASA under the instruction of the accused.”
Under examination by Adoon’s lawyer Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) on whether he (Adoon) was a signatory to any of the accounts, the witness replied: “No”.
On whether there were documents to show that payments were made to Adoon from NIMASA, the witness said Obi made several conflicting statements to the EFCC, which portrayed him as insincere.
Akoni informed the court that he intends to file a no-case submission in response to the charge.
A no-case submission is a term whereby a defendant seeks acquittal without having to present a defence.
Nwobike said he would review the evidences already given, in order to know whether to tow the same line with Akoni.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned until December 15.
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