March 11, 2016
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- Law News, Nigeria News
One Eboigbe Etiosa said on Thursday that Mr. Ezekiel Agaba, who is being tried alongside a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpolobokemi, bought a piece of land for N70m in Lekki, Lagos.
Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited are being tried for allegedly diverting N2.6bn meant for the implementation of International Ship and Port Security Code at NIMASA.
The ISPS Code is to enable the agency to carry out security checks on vessels entering into the country.
The 22 counts against them bordered on theft, advanced fee fraud and money laundering contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amended) Act, 2012.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty following which the EFCC opened its case.
Etiosa, an estate surveyor and valuer, was the 11th witness called by the EFCC to substantiate its claims.
Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, at the Thursday hearing at a sitting in Lagos, Etiosa claimed to have been introduced to Agaba by a friend.
Agaba, who described himself as an estate agent and surveyor, carrying out estate valuation and buying and selling properties, said Agaba was his client.
He claimed to have sold a piece of land to Agaba at Northern Foreshore Estate, Lekki for the sum of N70m.
He claimed that Agaba paid for the land in two instalments of N40m and N30m on January 15 and 20, 2014 respectively.
He said the money was paid into his account at the Eric Moore, Lagos branch of Zenith Bank.
“On January 15, 2014, I received N40m from Ace Prosthesis Limited. On January 20, 2014, I received the balance of N30m from Aker Integrated Services Limited.”
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