A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted a former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi and one other accused of N8.5 billion fraud.
Akpobolokemi was charged alongside a former commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (retd) and two other staff members of the agency, Kime Engonzu and Josphine Otuaga, on 22 counts bordering on fraud.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by the court.
Justice Ayokunle Faji discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi and the fourth defendant (Otuaga), while ruling on a no-case submission filed by them.
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The court held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
Meanwhile, Justice Faji held that the second defendant (Atewe) and third defendant (Engunzu) had a case to answer in counts 12 to 22 of the charge.
The EFCC had arraigned the defendants on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion and stealing.
The EFCC called a total of 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits in support of its case.
Justice Faji held that none of the witnesses called by the prosecution led any evidence linking the first and fourth defendants to the offences.
The court adjourned the case until May 6 for continuation of trial of the other defendants.
