shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » EFCC’s Forensic Experts Nails Former NIMASA DG; Akpobolokemi Over Alleged N8.5bn Fraud

EFCC’s Forensic Experts Nails Former NIMASA DG; Akpobolokemi Over Alleged N8.5bn Fraud

by Joshua
July 13, 2021
in Featured

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has presented the sixth witness and tendered more evidences against the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi and three others over alleged N8.5 billion fraud before justice Ayokunle Faaji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

 

Akpobolokemi Patrick

Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside Major-General Emmanuel Atewe (rtd), a former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, and two other staff of the agency, Kime Engonzu and Josphine Otuaga.

They are being prosecuted for an amended 22-count charge bordering on money laundering.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu, and Josphine Otuaga sometimes in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58 property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

They had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby prompting the commencement of their trial.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, presented the sixth prosecution witness, Benedict Agweyi, a Forensic Documents Examiner and the Commission’s acting Director of Forensics.

While being led in evidence by Suleiman, the witness told the Court that he received a letter of request with some documents attached for forensic examination, comparison and report from the office of the Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Lagos Office on April 25, 2016.

He said: “There were two categories of documents attached, including disputed documents marked X1 to X12, and known specimen handwriting and signatures marked as A1 to A8; B1 to B6, and C1 to C13.

“They were for me to determine whether or not the known specimens were the ones on A1 to A8, B1 to B6 and C1 to C13.”

In forensically analysing the documents, Agweyi said he used three methodologies bearing in mind three principles in signature analysis that guided the analysis of this nature.

According to him, no two writers share the same unique combination of handwriting characteristics.

He further told the court that “On the basis of this, I used the first methodology, which was a simulation of the various categories of writings, using a pencil, a handheld magnifier, a piece of paper, and my naked eyes.

“This methodology enabled me to identify certain characteristics among which include the commencement and terminal style of the writings; the letterforms and structural forms of the writings and the connecting strokes, among others.

Read Also:  Deep Blue Project Driven By Competent Manpower – Official

“The second methodology was a stereo-microscopic analysis using a Leica stereo microscope, which enabled me to analyse the different categories of writings under magnification ranging from the original sizes to over 20 times the original sizes of the writings.

“This enabled me to identify microscopic features including line formation, the direction of pen movement, and the speed of the writing in absence of tremor among others.”

Testifying further, he told the Court that he used a third methodology, which was a video spectra comparative analysis with the aid of the VSC 5000.

According to him, “This enabled me to further compare the disputed and known specimen handwritings under magnification. It enabled me identify the existence or non-existence of characteristics that are similar or otherwise.”

When asked by Suleiman what he made out of his analysis, he said, “On the conclusion of my analysis, I reduced my findings into a report dated 7 May, 2016 and my opinion was to the effect that the authors of the known specimens and signatures on the documents marked A1 to A8 and B1 to B6 also made the signatures on the disputed documents marked X1 to X12 and the authors of the known specimen and handwriting marked C1 to C13 also made the handwriting and signatures marked X1 to X10.”

He, thereafter, identified his report, which was already before the Court as Exhibit G series.

“I have no personal interest in this matter; and during the analysis, I never knew the names of those involved other than what was on the face of the documents,” he said.

The case has been adjourned till July 13, 2021.

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook


Tags: EFCC

Related Posts

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

July 12, 2025
Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

July 12, 2025
NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

CRFFN Showcases Reform Milestones, Dismisses Court Ruling Misinterpretation

July 12, 2025
NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

July 12, 2025

Discussion about this post

Latest News

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

July 12, 2025

Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

CRFFN Showcases Reform Milestones, Dismisses Court Ruling Misinterpretation

NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

Customs Intercepts ₦9.2bn Worth of Fake Bedroom Booster, Others

Customs, NAFDAC Inaugurate Implementation Committee for 2024 MoU

Nigeria Customs Intercepts Container with Over 10,000 Donkey Genitals

Senate Hails Adeniyi’s Election as WCO Council Chair, Says It’s  a Major Win for Nigeria’s Global Trade Leadership

Oyetola Launches Door-to-Door’ Diplomacy for Nigeria’s IMO Council Bid

FG Urged To Link Warri-Itakpe Rail To Inland Ports, Road Networks

Red Sea Operation Rescues 4 More From Cargo Ship Sunk By Houthis

Shippers’ Council Set to Establish Border Information Centre at Idiroko, Bolster Trade Efficiency

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert
Health

Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert

June 30, 2025

Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer, Osun Primary Healthcare Board, says contraceptive pills cannot cause...

ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

KNOW YOUR BODY PARTS: The Liver

June 16, 2025
ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

June 16, 2025
Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

June 1, 2025
20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

June 1, 2025
Health Facts You Didn’t Know

How Your Habit Affects Fertility

May 19, 2025
Fruits For Raining Season

Fruits For Raining Season

May 19, 2025
See Mental Illness Like Other Treatable Diseases – Says Suicide Survivor

Health Facts You Didn’t Know

May 19, 2025
Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

April 28, 2025
Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

April 28, 2025

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition