Government Ekpemupolo, a former Niger Delta militant, has been taken to court on a 40-count criminal charge of unlawful conversion alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administratiion and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
According to Sahara Reporters, they were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 22, at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Reports say about $108.7m and N2.1billion, the property of NIMASA, had been allegedly converted by the pair as they were proceeds of theft.
Others charged alongside the major suspects include Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.
Festus Keyamo, the EFCC prosecutor, filed the suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, in which 16 of the counts alleged that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired amongst themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.
Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Destre Consult Ltd in counts 17-38 of the criminal charge, allegedly converted the sum of N106.8m, property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.
And the prosecutor, in counts 39 and 40, alleged further that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of N8million, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, with the knowledge that the fund was garnered through corrupt means.
The accused are now facing charges on the offences said to be contrary to, and punishable under the Money Laundering Act of 2012, while Akpolobokemi is currently standing trial in two different courts of the Federal High Court in Lagos for other offences.
Only last week, reports emerged that Tompolo had to hide underground in the creeks of Bayelsa state to evade arrest after being summoned by the anti-graft agency.
Reports say about $108.7m and N2.1billion, the property of NIMASA, had been allegedly converted by the pair as they were proceeds of theft.
Others charged alongside the major suspects include Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.
Festus Keyamo, the EFCC prosecutor, filed the suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, in which 16 of the counts alleged that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired amongst themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.
Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Destre Consult Ltd in counts 17-38 of the criminal charge, allegedly converted the sum of N106.8m, property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.
And the prosecutor, in counts 39 and 40, alleged further that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of N8million, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, with the knowledge that the fund was garnered through corrupt means.
The accused are now facing charges on the offences said to be contrary to, and punishable under the Money Laundering Act of 2012, while Akpolobokemi is currently standing trial in two different courts of the Federal High Court in Lagos for other offences.
Only last week, reports emerged that Tompolo had to hide underground in the creeks of Bayelsa state to evade arrest after being summoned by the anti-graft agency.
