TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured an interim forfeiture of  N725.3 million and property located in the Banana Island area of Ikoyi, Lagos, linked to Patrick Akpobolokemi, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The order of forfeiture was given on Monday by Tijjani Ringim, judge of a federal high court in Lagos, following an ex parte application filed by the EFCC.

Bilkisu Buhari, EFCC counsel who argued the application, said the N725.3 million and the property, Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi were reasonably suspected to have been proceeds of unlawful activities.

The application was brought pursuant to section 17 of the advance fee fraud and other related offences act No 14 of 2006 and Section 44(2b) of the 1999 Constitution.

Buhari prayed the court to grant interim forfeiture and to make an order for anyone interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the federal government.

Ruling on the application, the judge said: “I have listened to the submission of counsel and perused the affidavit in support of the application together with exhibits. I find merit in this statutory application and same is granted as prayed.”

In October 2015, the EFCC arraigned Akpobolokemi and five others on a 22-count charge for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from NIMASA’s coffers between December 2013 and May 2015.

He was discharged and acquitted of the charges by the court of appeal in June 2018.

However, the former NIMASA DG is still standing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, a former executive director of NIMASA over an alleged N754.8 million fraud.