The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today February 23, 2016 presented the sixth
witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others
for the alleged diversion of over Two Billion Naira.
Others are Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche,
Governor Ameche Juan, Blokz and Stonz Limited and Alkenzo Logistics Limited.
At the resumed hearing today, the prosecution counsel Rotimi
Oyedepo, led in evidence one Uchenna
Emenalo, younger brother to Emeka
Emenalo, the owner of O2 Services Limited, the company that was allegedly used
to divert part of the proceeds from the Committee on International Shipping and
Ports Security in NIMASA.
Uchenna told the court that he approached the third accused
person, Ekene Nwakuche as a former school mate to help him secure any contract
that his brother's company, O2 Services Limited could handled.
The witness further disclosed that after his discussion with
the third accused person, he was asked to provide their company’s name and
account details.
The witness told the court how between March 2014 and June
2015, O2 Services Limited received about One Hundred and Twenty One Million
which he personally disbursed based on instructions from the third accused
person Ekene Nwakuche. The third accused persons provided him with different
account number into which the said amount was paid.
When confronted
with exhibit P17a and b which are documents that supposedly emanated from O2
Services Limited as Contract Application Document and Invoices for
payment, the witness said the signatures
on the documents were neither his, nor his brother's. Asked whether any of the
contract awarded to his brother’s company were executed, the witnessed said
‘no’.
Earlier in his evidence,
Uchenna admitted that O2 Services Limited is into Agro Allied Products
and lacked competence in security related services.
The witness also denied knowing any General Manager, Field
Operations at O2 services Limited as the company is solely run by his brother.
During cross examination, Joseph Nwobike, SAN, counsel for
the first accused person asked the witness if he runs any business by himself
to which he answered, no. Uchenna also confirmed that Ekene told him that the
contract was Security related but that their company would be registered as
RSO, Registered Security Organisation.
E.D Onyeke counsel
for the second accused person asked the witness if in the statement he made to
EFCC he mentioned the email address of his brother or the address of O2
Services Limited. Uchenna said he only
used his house address in his statement as he was not asked the office address.
The witness also said the same thing when he was asked if he gave the EFCC a
copy of his brother's company letterhead.
When asked by Adio, counsel to Ekene, whether he benefitted
from the money that was paid into O2 Services Limited account, Uchenna admitted
receiving the sum of Six Hundred
Thousand Naira for Logistics and bank charges.
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