Court convicts Calistus Obi, former Ag DG of NIMASA for money laundering

0
950
*Obi

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Thursday convicted a former acting director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Calistus Obi for converting and laundering N136 million belonging to the agency.

The judge, however, adjourned sentencing till May 28.

Obi was charged with N136 million fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was appointed the acting head of NIMASA two months after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015.

The president had earlier fired Patrick Akpobolokemi as the chief executive officer of the agency.

Akpobolokemi is being prosecuted separately for corruption while in office.

In the charge filed against Obi, he was alleged to have committed the offences on August 5, 2014.

According to the EFCC, he and a former staff of NIMASA allegedly conspired to convert money from NIMASA, with the knowledge that same were proceeds of stealing.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Calistus Nwabueze Obi and Dismass Alu Adoon on or about the 5th day of August 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N111,000,000, property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Obi, Global Seal and Grand Pact were said to have converted N42, 755,000.00 on December 24, 2013.

EFCC said Obi, on May 2, 2013, converted N25, 000,000, as well as N46.3million being “proceeds of stealing” between April 1 and December 11, 2014.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here