A Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagoos on Wednesday, sentenced Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, a former executive director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to seven years in jail for N1.7bn fraud.
Justice I.N. Buba convicted Agaba, who was prosecuted on seven-count amended charges, bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office.
This followed a 2015 intelligence report of fraud in NIMASA and subsequent investigations that unearthed several suspicious transactions to the tune of N1,699,808,666.60, traced to him.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, upon arraignment, prompting his trial.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in the course of the trial, argued that 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 Agaba was its committee Chairman, was diverted by him through Seabulk Offshore Operator Ltd, Ace Prothesis Ltd, Southern Offshore Limited, Extreme Vertex Nigeria Ltd and Aroward Consulting Ltd.
“These companies were basically used to receive the funds and in most cases transfer the funds as directed by the defendant to various companies and individuals either for the purchase of United States Dollars or landed property or stock,” he said.
Oyedepo invited 12 witnesses and tendered several documentary evidences, which were admitted by the court as exhibits.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, Justice Buba held that the prosecution proved its case against beyond every reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on each count, which is to run concurrently.
