Estate Agent Alleges He Assisted Former NIMASA Director To Buy Land

A witness, Eboigbe Etiosa, on Thursday said that he helped Ezekiel Agaba, a former Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development in NIMASA, to purchase a piece of land in 2014.

Etiosa, an estate surveyor, gave the testimony at the resumed trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of NIMASA.

Akpobolokemi is charged alongside five others on a 22-count charge bordering on N2.6 billion conversion and theft.

Others charged are Captain Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the accused.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Led in examination by the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said that the property was purchased at Lekki.

He said that the property was valued at N70 million and his bank account was credited twice with the sum.

Etiosa said that he first received N40 million on Jan.15, 2014 from Agaba through a company named Ace Prothesis Nig. Ltd.

He said he got the balance of N30 million from Aker Integrated Services on Jan. 20, 2014.

The witness said he did not know the companies through which money for the land was routed.

“After negotiation, I forwarded my account to Captain Agaba and my account was credited.

“It was this money that I used for the property,” he said.

Also testifying on Thursday, a branch manager of a first generation bank, Mrs Rita Ifeadi, explained how payment were made to NIMASA staff even though they were not signatories.

She had earlier testified that some bank accounts opened in the name of contractors by NIMASA were operated by the agency’s staff.

She said that NIMASA transferred several millions into the accounts which were withdrawn or transferred by the agency’s staff.

Under cross examination, Ifeadi said an account could be operated by another person apart from the person whose name was on the mandate card.

She said that in such exceptional circumstances, she would counter-sign the cheques before the beneficiary would be paid.

Justice Buba adjourned till March 23 for continuation of trial. (NAN)