A
Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has dismissed an application by a former
Director -General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,
NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi challenging its jurisdiction to entertain his
trial.
Akpobolokemi,
is standing trial, alongside five others, on a 13- count charge bordering
on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of funds to the tune of N687, 294, 680 (Six Hundred and
Eighty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, Six Hundred and
Eighty Naira). His co-accused persons are: Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba;
Ekene Nwakuche; Governor Amechee Juan; Vincent Udoye, Captain Ade Sahib
Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.
At
the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Justice R.I.B Adebiyi threw out
Akpobolokemi's suit challenging the jurisdiction of the court, stressing that
the application lacked merit. "This court finds preliminary
objections raised by 1st and 4th defendants/ applicants to lack merit, both
preliminary objections are accordingly dismissed", he said.
Counsel
to Akpobolokemi, Joseph Nwobike, SAN, while arguing against the jurisdiction of
the court to try his client, hinged his objection on the fact that, "only
the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters and cases
arising from, pertaining to, or connected with the revenue of the Federal
Government of Nigeria and its agencies". He was joined by counsel to
the fourth defendant, A. Ige Asemudara who also brought an application for
preliminary objection before the court. All the applications have now been
dismissed by the court.
Justice
Adebiyi subsequently adjourned the matter till 14, 20 April and 3,
4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 13 May, 2016 for trial.
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