NMASA trial-We got N905.8m for no contracts- Businessman

Captain Warredi and Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi arraigned by EFCC

A lawyer and businessman, Uche Obilor, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that three of his companies got N905,800 million from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) without bidding for any contract. He said the firms – Seabulk Offshore Limited, Southern Offshore Limited and Ace Prothesis Limited – were paid for a contract they never executed. He was testifying in the trial of a former NIMASA Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) converting N2.6billion.He was also accused of defrauding the Federal Government of 795.2million. According to the witness, the companies received letters of award of contracts although they did not submit any bids. He said the monies were paid before they got confirmation that they had been awarded the contract.

“When we had the letter of award, by then the monies had been paid upfront. “We were later approached that we should stay action, and that we should remit the money to certain companies and individuals,” he said.

He said his companies got the following sums: Seabulk Offshore, N437million; Southern Offshore, N402million and Ace Prothesis, N66.8million.Obilor said they neither issued requests for payment, nor submitted any invoices. When he was showed a request document for the payment of a particular sum, he said: 

“We did not issue this document.” “I am very much aware of what happens in my companies. If the documents had emanated from the companies I would have known. I am unaware that my directors signed the documents,” he said.