A former Commander of
Guards Brigade and erstwhile Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, OPERATION PULO SHIELD, Major General Emmanuel Atewe was on friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Saliu
Saidu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi on an 11-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering.
The officer who is currently
serving with the army’s Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger state was
charged alongside a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency, NMASA, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi; Kime Engozu
and Josphine Otuaga.
The accused persons
allegedly conspired among themselves to divert over N8billion paid into the
account of the Joint Military Task Force by NIMASA during the tenure of
Akpobolokemi. The money was converted into foreign exchange and the proceeds
shared by the defendants. Specifically, payments to the tune of N8,
537,586,798.58 were allegedly made to the JTF’s account with a new generation
bank by NIMASA. A substantial part of the money, about N6, 038,350,741 was
converted into United States Dollars by Atewe and Akpobolokemi, through various
Bureau De Change operators, and handed over to
Enzogu and Otuaga who were
business partners to Akpobokelemi and thereafter shared by the defendants
Part of the money was
allegedly used in the acquisition of choice properties in Port Harcourt and
Abuja, as well as shares in blue chip companies.
One of the charges read,
“That you Mr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu
and Josphine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of
this court with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves to commit an
offence to wit; Conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58 (Eight billion, five
hundred and thirty seven million, five hundred and eighty six thousand, seven
hundred and ninety eight Naira, fifty eight kobo), property of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)(Amendment)Act, 2012
and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act’’ .
All the accused persons pleaded
not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo told the court that he was ready for trial with his witnesses and
pleaded for accelerated hearing.
Counsel to the first
accused, Mathew Bukar however prayed the court to grant his client (Akpobolokemi)
bail, as he had earlier been granted bail by judges in the other cases where he
is currently standing trial. Counsel to the third and fourth accused, U.B.E
Innaji also urged the court to exercise its discretion to grant bail in the
favour of his clients.
However, the court rejected
Mike Ozekhome SAN, counsel to General Atewe’s prayer to grant his client bail
based on self recognition.
Justice Saidu after
considering the bail applications granted bail to the first accused (Akpobokelemi)
on the terms earlier given by courts where he is currently standing trial on
corruption charges.
The second, third and fourth accused were also
granted bail in the sum of One hundred million naira each, two sureties and one
of whom must be a senior civil servant of the rank of Deputy Director. The
other must be a relative who must have a property in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, or
Lekki areas of Lagos.
The accused are remanded in
prison custody pending when they perfect the terms of their bail.
Justice Saidu adjourned
the case to June 24, 2016 for commencement of trial.
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