Presidency, NSA approved N2.4bn disbursement at NIMASA – Witness

An Assistant Director in the Finance Services Department of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mrs. Olamide Odusanya, has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that the agency, under the watch of its immediate-past Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, opened two bank accounts without the knowledge and the approval of the Accountant General of the Federation.
Odusanya disclosed that a total of N2,426,400,000 was disbursed into the said accounts between March and August 2014 with Akpobolokemi’s approval.
She stated that the two accounts were opened with Access Bank and Zenith Bank in the name of NIMASA’s Committee on International Ship and Ports Security.
She explained that transfer of funds into the accounts was with the approval of the Presidency through the office of the National Security Adviser.
Odusanya stated this on Thursday while testifying as the 9th witness in the trial of Akpobolokemi and six others, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly defrauding NIMASA of N2.6bn between March and June 2014.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba on December 4, 2015 alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited.