The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned till February 4 a suit filed by the family of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Akpobolokemi’s wife, Beauty, and his brothers – Stephen, Julius and Victor – filed the fundamental rights action, demanding N100million as damages for the emotional and psychological trauma EFCC allegedly caused them.
The case was previously before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, but was transferred to Justice Saliu Saidu.
Security agents re-arrested Akpobolokemi after he was arraigned before two different judges. He and nine others, including two companies, were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on charges of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4billion belonging to NIMASA. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
EFCC also arraigned him and three others before Justice Ibrahim Buba on separate charges of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.
According to Akpobolokemi’s family, armed security operatives numbering about 25, stormed his Banana Island residence on July 31 last year in the bid to arrest the ex-NIMASA chief.
They said EFCC operatives, without any search warrant, harassed them and coerced Mrs. Akpobolokemi to write a statement.
The Nation
