On Thursday, a Federal High Court justice in Lagos, Justice Mojisola Olatoregum, convicted

a NIMASA’s former Acting Director-General, Calistus Obi, charged with N136 million fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought an eight-count charge

against Mr. Obi, who was also the agency’s former Executive Director.

Also charged alongside Mr. Obi was one Alu Dismas, an aide to Patrick Akpobolokemi, a

former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Moreover, two companies, Grand Pact Ltd. and Global Seal Investment Ltd were charged.

On Thursday, the the defendants were convicted by the court, after they were found guilty

of the allegations in the charge.

The judgement lasted for approximately two and half hours, in which the first defendant,

Calistus Obi, found guilty of counts five, six, seven and eight of the charge by Justice

Olatoregun. The second defendant, Alu Dismas, was also found guilty of counts two and four

of the charge.

However, the defendants were discharged of counts one and three of the charge.

The judge adjourned the case until May 28 to hear the convicts’ plea of mercy (allocutus),

after which the court will sentence them.

Pending sentencing, the judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison.

On arraignment, the defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted

bail in the sum of N5 million each, with sureties in like sum.

On January 31, 2017, EFCC closed its case, while the defense filed a no-case submission.

The no-case submission was dismissed by the court on February 21, 2017, and ordered the defence to open its case.

According to the charge, the defendants committed the offenses on August 5, 2014.

The prosecution alleged that the convicts conspired to convert the money from NIMASA, with the knowledge that it was a proceed of stealing.

The alleged offenses contravene the provisions of Sections 15 and 18(a) of the Money

Laundering Prohibitions (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.