A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, on fraud charges.
The charges were brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Monday the presiding judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defendants, discharged and acquitted Mr. Akpobolokemi and one Josphine Otuaga, a staff of NIMASA, saying that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
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The judge However, ruled that Emmanuel Atewe, a former commander of the joint task force operation Pulo Shield, who is the second defendant, and Kime Engonzu, a staff of NIMASA, the third defendant, have cases to answer.
Mr. Akpobolokemi and his co-defendants were arraigned on an amended 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion and stealing funds worth N8,537,586, 798.58.
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