CASE NUMBER 10920:

EX NIMASA BOSS JAILED 7 YEARS OVER MONEY LAUNDERING

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Alleged Perpetrators(s)

Ezekiel Bala Agbaba

Location (Town / State)

Lagos State, Lagos

Date of Event

15 Jul 2020

Date of republication

15 July every year

Case category (Choose all that apply)

Case Summary

Ezekiel Bala Agaba, a former executive director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)), has been sentenced to seven years in prison on seven-count amended charges, bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the sum of N1.5 billion.

Full story

Former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Captain Ezekiel Bala Agba has been convicted by the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos, to seven years in prison for N1.7billion fraud.
The convict was first arraigned before the court in 2015 alongside three others for allegedly laundering the sum of N2.6 billion - a former NIMASA Managing Director Dr. Patrick Akpolobokemi (who was discharged and acquitted in 2016 by the Court of Appeal in Lagos); a former NIMASA staff Ekene Nwakuche and the chairman of Ndokwa LGA of Delta State, Juan Amechee Governor (charges against the duo was withdrawn by the EFCC on October 10 2019 but brought an amended charge against Agaba). EFCC stated that between December 23, 2013 and March 13, 2014 in Lagos, Agaba converted the sum of N1.5billion through four companies namely Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace Protehesis Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Limited and Aroward Consulting Limited in tranches of N437,726,666.60,N66,800,000, N21,802,000,N402,480, 000.00, N525,000,000, N70,000.000 and N176, 000,000.
One of the charges read: “That you, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba between the 23rd of December, 2013, and 13th of March, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, converted through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, the sum of N437,726,666.60 (Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Naira, Sixty Kobo), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.” Another charge read: “That you, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba on or about the 6th of November, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, converted through Extreme Vertex Nigeria Ltd, the sum of N525,000,000.00 (Five Hundred and Twenty-five Million Naira), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The convict pleaded not guilty upon arraignment leading to his immediate trial. The Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo presented 12 witnesses and tendered several documents as evidences which were admitted by the court as exhibits. Rotimi also argued that the money laundered, was funds released by the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser, for the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS code activities in 2014, of which the convict was its committee Chairman
Delivering his judgment, Justice Ibrahim Buba held that the prosecution proved its case against beyond every reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to a total of 49 years imprisonment, convicting him on each of the seven count charge, but he will only spend 7 years, as the sentences will run concurrently. Justice Buba declined the application of EFCC counsel for the forfeiture of property allegedly bought by Agaba from the proceeds of the money laundering.

External links/URLs

https://businessday.ng/news/article/ex-nimasa-boss-bags-seven-years-for-n1-7b-fraud/ https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/07/15/just-in-captain-bala-agaba-ex-nimasa-director-jailed-7-years/

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