EFCC witness says he handed $15m cash to ex-NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi

A PROSECUTION witness in the trial of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, has told a federal high court in Lagos that he personally delivered $15 million in cash to the former agency chief.

The witness, Ezekiel Bala-Agaba, who previously served as executive director in charge of Maritime Safety, Shipping Development and Marine Operations at NIMASA, made the disclosure while giving evidence before the court.

Bala-Agaba explained that he was originally listed as one of the defendants in the case but later chose to cooperate with the prosecution and testify for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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Akpobolokemi was appointed as NIMASA’s director-general in 2010 by former President Goodluck Jonaathan Akpobolobut was removed from office in 2015.

In December 2015, the EFCC filed a 30-count charge against him and 7 other defendants, accusing them of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of public funds and money laundering.

Those listed in the charge alongside the former NIMASA boss include Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, as well as two companies – Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly collaborated to divert more than N1.15 billion under the pretext of providing maritime security intelligence services.

The EFCC has also filed separate charges against Akpobolokemi in other courts over alleged cases of fraud and theft.

Witness testimony

While being led in evidence by EFCC counsel Suleiman Suleiman, Bala-Agaba stated that the funds meant for pipeline surveillance were withdrawn from NIMASA’s accounts, converted to foreign currency and eventually handed to Akpobolokemi.

He told the court that the naira funds were taken to a bureau de change operator, who exchanged the money and later delivered the dollar equivalent to NIMASA’s office on Burma Road in Apapa, Lagos.

Bala-Agaba said he subsequently carried the cash to the office of the then director-general.

“The money was sent to a bureau de change, which later brought the dollar equivalent to our office at Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos,” he told the court.

He further explained that he asked his personal assistant, Ekene Nwakuche, to accompany him with the bag containing the cash to the director-general’s office.

According to him, he collected the bag from his assistant at the entrance of the office and proceeded inside alone before handing the $15 million directly to Akpobolokemi.

During the proceedings, the witness was also presented with a document containing a letter from Access Bank to the EFCC showing details of transactions conducted through NIMASA’s accounts between 2013 and 2015.

When asked by the court to confirm the amount he delivered to the former agency head, Bala-Agaba replied that the sum was $15 million.

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After hearing the testimony, Justice Ayokunle Faji adjourned the matter until April 22 and 23 for the continuation of the trial.

Property forfeiture to FG

In 2023, a high court ordered Akpobolokemi to forfeit choice properties belonging to him in Banana Island and Ikoyi to the Nigerian government. The former NIMASA boss was also ordered to forfeit over N725 million to the government, being proceeds allegedly diverted from the agency, The Source reported.

The order for the forfeiture was given by a federal high court in Lagos, which said the Akpobolokemi illegally diverted the funds used in acquiring the said properties from the top maritime agency while he presided over its affairs. According to Justice Tijjani Ringim who gave the ruling, in a matter brought by the EFCC,  the affected properties included Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. However, the order was later voided by another federal high court in June 2024.

In June 2025, the Court of Appeal Lagos Division discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi of a N754.8m fraud charge brought against him by the EFCC. But Akpobolokemi still has another ongoing case instituted against him by the EFCC.