Akpobolokemi: arrested in a scene of drama

There was commotion today at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos, as a detachment of mobile policemen, in company of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stormed the court to arrest former Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi.

Indeed the arrest was like a reality play of an action packed western movie.

The embattled former Director General of NIMASA has been  arraigned before two different courts of the Federal high court on charges of stealing and conversion of money running into billions of Naira.

He was just coming from a court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba,where one the cases was adjourned till 18th January,2016 for trial  and was about to enter his car outside the court when he was accosted by two EFCC operatives and two armed mobile Policemen.

Thereafter the encounter degenerated into a scuffle. The armed Policemen  called for reinforcement,when he resisted arrest and tried to overpower them. Pronto, four mobile Policemen who have been in hiding came out to join their colleagues, overpowered him and  bundled him into a waiting kombi bus.

Akpobolokemi was then  whisked away to the bewilderment  of his lawyers who helplessly watched the whole scenario as it unfolded.

Justice Ibrahim buba had adjourned till 18th January for the trial of the accused person to commence.

This came after Dr Joseph Nwobike, SAN,  leading seven other lawyers and  other counsels appearing for three other accused persons urged the court to adjourn the case to enable them study the case file since they have just being briefed. He also begged for more time, because  the EFCC  served them additional proof of evidence in the open court today. The EFCC prosecutor Mr Festus Keyamo did not raise any objection.

In the first case Akpobolokemi was  arraigned  with three other accused persons and three companies over an alleged stealing and conversion of #2,659,457,666.00.     In a twenty-two count criminal charge number FHC/L/511C/15 signed and filed before the court by the Economic and Financial Crime commission (EFCC) prosecutor Barrister Festus Keyamo.