[caption id="attachment_37582" align="alignnone" width="600"] Akpobolokemi: arrested in a scene of drama[/caption] 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. It was alleged that Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi,Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba,Ekene Nwakuche,and Governor Amechee Juan with intent to defraud conspired together to induce the Federal Government of Nigeria to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of #2,659,457,666.60 under the false pretense that the said sum represented the cost for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Security(ISPS) code in Nigeria Ports thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 8(a) 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006. All the accused persons were also alleged to have conspired with these three companies BLOCK AND STONZ LTD,KENZO LOGISTICS LIMITED,AND AL-KENZO LOGISTICS LTD to commit the offence thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering Act 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same act. All the accused persons pleaded not guilty,consequently Dr Joseph Nwobike SAN leading seven other lawyers while arguing their bail application urged the court to admit them to bail on the ground that they are presume innocent until they are found guilty, They were admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety who must possess landed property worth N50million. The accused must also deposit their international passports with the court as they are also banned from travelling outside the country. In the second case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) charged Akpobolokemi, with stealing and conversion of #3.4Billion Also arraigned with him are seven accused persons and two companies namely: Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba,Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena,Captain Warredi Enisuoh,Governor Amechee Juan,Ugo Fredrick,Timi Alari, the two companies are, Al-kenzo Limited,Penniel Engineering services Limited. In a thirty count criminal charge number FHC/L/496C/15 signed and filed before the court by EFCC prosecuting counsel Barrister Festus Keyamo it was alleged that Dr Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and other co-accused mentioned above and one Grace Z. Subai alleged to be at large between 20th December 2013 and 28th May 2015,were alleged to have conspired together to steal and convert the sum of N3.4 billion, property of NIMASA. All the accused pleaded not guilty. Thereafter Dr Joseph Nwobike leading nine other lawyers who adopted his submission, arguing his bail application. He asked the court to grant the accused liberal bail terms on the ground that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In addition, Nwobike submitted further that the accused who are on EFCC administrative bail came from their respective homes. He said they will not jump bail if granted bail. However,the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Oyedepo Rotimi,while not opposing the bail of fourth to eight accused persons opposed the bail of Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi on the ground that when he was granted administrative bail by the EFCC, he jumped bail,and failed to come back to the commission until his sureties were arrested and detained. In his ruling,the presiding Judge Saliu Saidu,admitted,Patrick Ziadeke Apolobokemi to bail in the sum of N100million with two sureties. One of the sureties who must be his relation must be a landed property owner in either Ikoyi, Victoria Island,or Lekki. He also ordered the former NIMASA boss to deposit his International passport with the court. The other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties. One of the sureties must be a landed property owner in either Ikoyi or Victoria island. All the documents of the landed property are to be verified by the court Registrar. Thereafter Justice Saidu adjourned till 29th of January,2016 when the trial of the accused persons will commence.