A businessman, Uche Obilor, narrated to a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday how he got a N905.8m contract from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency without bidding for it.
Obilor claimed that the contract was awarded by the agency to his three companies – Seabulk Offshore Limited; Southern Offshore Limited; and Ace Prosthesis Limited – with the money fully paid.
He, however, said that ever before the contract could be executed the agency cancelled it and instructed that the money should be transferred to personal accounts of some individuals and companies.
Obilor testified on Tuesday against the immediate past Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and five others, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly stealing and diverting N2.6bn belonging to NIMASA.
The accused were said to have allegedly perpetrated the scam between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015. They were arraigned on 22 counts before Justice Buba on December 4, last year.
Standing trial with Akpobolokemi are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
The anti-graft agency claimed 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.
But the accused had all pleaded not guilty.
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