Akpobolokemi Puts Own N650 Million House For Sale

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  Returns N40 billion to FG    

Following the incessant charges hitting the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi, a source close to the former DG revealed that Akpobolokemi is set to sell his N650million house on the Banana Island, Lagos.

The former NIMASA helmsman, Akpobolokemi is facing 40 counts charges of fraud and money laundering to the tune of over N35 billion and a source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the former NIMASA boss is said to be thinking of recouping funds by selling his N650 million house in Lagos.

Attempts to sale the house have been very difficult because prospective buyers seem to have been put off by Akpobolokemi’s numerous fraud allegations and the possibility of the federal government taking over the building after it had been purchased.

The N650 million building was said to have been acquired by Patrick Akpobolokemi during his first year in office as the Director General of the Nigerian Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Meanwhile, Akpobolokemi is alleged to have returned about N40 million since his trial began and he has already been made to pay N100 million as bail on two separate occasions.

Akobolokemi’s troubles continue as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently slammed him another two separate charges barely a day after he was re-arrested in front of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

In one of the new charges filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr. Akpobolokemi faces 40 counts of fraud and money laundering to the tune of N34.5billion, while the second charge filed before a Lagos State High Court, Mr. Akpobolokemi is accused of stealing N600million.

Both cases are yet to be assigned even as the embattled former NIMASA chief battle to secure his release on bail, pending arraignment in court.

Mr. Akpobolokemi was bundled by security operatives into a waiting bus outside the court, Monday, after he refused their directives to return with them to the EFCC office. His trial was adjourned by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, where, alongside five other individuals, he is facing criminal charges to the tune of N2.3billion filed against them by the EFCC.

Akpobolokemi’s arrest is on the strength of fresh evidence that he allegedly converted the sum of N11,737,854,485 and another N816,000,000, totaling N12, 905, 485 meant for the development of the temporary site of the proposed Nigeria Maritime University, Kurutie, Warri South Local Government area of Delta State, for his personal use.

The suspect was said to have obtained a presidential approval of N13, 000,000,000 through the office of the then National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) for the acquisition and development of a temporary site for the Nigeria Maritime University.

Out of the total approved amount, a sum of N11,737,854,485 was allegedly paid into a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemopolo a.k.a Tompolo and after the said money was paid, investigation further showed that N6 billion was further moved into another account belonging to one of the associates of the indicted DG.

All efforts to reach the housing agent on the alleged sale of the N650 million quarters were futile and MMS Plus couldn’t verify these allegations as at press time. Several efforts to reach the EFCC on these issues were also unfruitful.