N1.2Billion Fraud Trial: Witness Tells Court He Personally Delivered $15Million Cash To Ex-NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi
Witness Tells Court He Delivered $15m Cash to Former NIMASA DG
March 13, 2026
A prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he personally delivered $15 million in cash to the former agency boss.
The witness, Ezekiel Bala-Agaba, a former Executive Director of Maritime Safety, Shipping Development and Marine Operations at NIMASA, gave the testimony on Thursday before Justice Ayokunle Faji as the 15th prosecution witness in the case.
Agaba told the court that funds meant for pipeline surveillance operations were withdrawn from NIMASA accounts, converted into dollars through a Bureau de Change, and later transported to the agency’s office on Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos.
According to him, the money was later handed directly to the then Director-General.
“The money was sent to a Bureau de Change, which later brought the dollar equivalent to our office at Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos. I asked my Personal Assistant, Ekene Nwakuche, to carry the bag and follow me to the Director-General’s office,” he said.
He explained that he collected the bag containing the money from his aide before entering the office.
“When we got to the door of the Director-General’s office, I collected the bag from him and asked him to wait outside. I then personally delivered the sum of $15 million to the Director-General,” Agaba told the court.
Former Defendant Turns Witness
Agaba, who previously served as Director of Maritime Security and Safety, was initially listed as a defendant in the case but later agreed to testify for the prosecution.
While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Suleiman Suleiman, he explained the administrative structure of NIMASA and how financial approvals were processed within the agency.
He stated that the Director-General serves as the overall head of the organisation and gives directives to directors who then implement policies in line with the NIMASA Act.
Agaba also revealed that he chaired the agency’s Intelligence Committee, which supervised certain maritime security operations.
“As chairman of the committee, I oversaw its activities and reported directly to the Director-General, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi,” he said.
Financial Records Presented in Court
During the proceedings, the witness was shown a document containing a letter from Access Bank to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing transactions carried out in NIMASA’s accounts between 2013 and 2015.
When asked how much he delivered to the former Director-General, Agaba responded:
“$15 million.”
Trial Adjourned
Legal representation in the case included Collins Ogbonna, who appeared for Akpobolokemi, and Tokunbo Ajibulu, who represented the second defendant, Warredi Enisuoh.
Following the testimony, Justice Ayokunle Faji adjourned the case until April 22 and 23 for the continuation of trial.
EFCC Charges
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in December 2015 arraigned Akpobolokemi and seven others on a 30-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds, and money laundering.
Others charged alongside the former NIMASA boss include Ezekiel Agaba, Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, as well as two companies — Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly conspired to divert more than ₦1.15 billion under the guise of providing security intelligence services in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Investigations revealed that the NIMASA Intelligence Committee received about ₦1,153,000,000 between December 2013 and July 2015.
The EFCC further alleged that some of the companies awarded contracts for the intelligence operations were either unregistered, lacked the capacity to carry out the work, or were linked to the defendants.
One of the charges states that Akpobolokemi and the others conspired to commit offences punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.