A former Commander of Guards Brigade and erstwhile Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, OPERATION PULO SHIELD, Major General Emmanuel Atewe was on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering.
The officer who is currently serving with the army’s Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State was charged alongside a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NMASA, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi; Kime Engozu and Josphine Otuaga.
The accused persons allegedly conspired among themselves to divert over N8 billion paid into the account of the Joint Military Task Force by NIMASA during the tenure of Akpobolokemi.
The money was converted into foreign exchange and the proceeds shared by the defendants.
Specifically, payments to the tune of N8,537,586,798.58 were allegedly made to the JTF’s account with a new generation bank by NIMASA. A substantial part of the money, about N6, 038,350,741 was converted into United States Dollars by Atewe and Akpobolokemi, through various Bureau De Change operators, and handed over to Enzogu and Otuaga who were business partners to Akpobokelemi and thereafter shared by the defendants.
Part of the money was allegedly used in the acquisition of choice properties in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as shares in blue chip companies.
However, the court rejected Mike Ozekhome SAN, counsel to General Atewe’s prayer to grant his client bail based on self recognition.
Justice Saidu after considering the bail applications granted bail to the first accused (Akpobokelemi) on the terms earlier given by courts where he is currently standing trial on corruption charges.
The second, third and fourth accused were also granted bail in the sum of N100 million each, two sureties and one of whom must be a senior civil servant of the rank of Deputy Director.
The other must be a relative who must have a property in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, or Lekki areas of Lagos.
The accused are remanded in prison custody pending when they perfect the terms of their bail.
Justice Saidu adjourned the case to June 24, 2016 for commencement of trial.
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