Appeal Court Voids Conviction of Ex-NIMASA DG’s Aide

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, has voided the
conviction of Mr. Alu Dismas, an aide to former Director General of
the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NMASA, Dr.
Patrick Akpobolokemi, in an alleged N136 million fraud case filed
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Delivering its judgment, the justices of the court agreed with
the appellant that the conviction was a nullity.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice T. Awotoye, the court
greed that the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of money
laundering against Dismas.

The EFCC had on April 12, 2016 arraigned Alu and Callistus Obi
(a former Executive Director of NIMASA) on an eight-count charge
before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos.

Also charged were two companies, Grand Pact Ltd and Global Seal
Investment Ltd, as third and fourth defendants respectively.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that they conspired to convert
money to the tune of N136million from NIMASA with knowledge that
same were proceeds of crime, thus contravening the provisions of
sections 15 and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering and Prohibitions
(Amendment) Act, 2021.

In her judgment on May 23, 2019, Justice Olatoregun convicted
Dismas and Callistus alongside the aforementioned companies having
found them guilty on the charges of money laundering.

She discharged and acquitted them of the conspiracy charge.

Not satisfied with the judgment, the convicts through his
lawyers approached the Court of Appeal.

Present during the judgment which was delivered via zoom is C.
Z. Katung who represented the appellant while S. I. Suleiman
appeared for the respondent: the EFCC.

Dr. Akpobolokemi was NIMASA DG between 2011 and 2015.

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, has voided the
conviction of Mr. Alu Dismas, an aide to former Director General of
the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NMASA, Dr.
Patrick Akpobolokemi, in an alleged N136 million fraud case filed
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Delivering its judgment, the justices of the court agreed with
the appellant that the conviction was a nullity.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice T. Awotoye, the court
greed that the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of money
laundering against Dismas.

The EFCC had on April 12, 2016 arraigned Alu and Callistus Obi
(a former Executive Director of NIMASA) on an eight-count charge
before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos.

Also charged were two companies, Grand Pact Ltd and Global Seal
Investment Ltd, as third and fourth defendants respectively.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that they conspired to convert
money to the tune of N136million from NIMASA with knowledge that
same were proceeds of crime, thus contravening the provisions of
sections 15 and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering and Prohibitions
(Amendment) Act, 2021.

In her judgment on May 23, 2019, Justice Olatoregun convicted
Dismas and Callistus alongside the aforementioned companies having
found them guilty on the charges of money laundering.

She discharged and acquitted them of the conspiracy charge.

Not satisfied with the judgment, the convicts through his
lawyers approached the Court of Appeal.

Present during the judgment which was delivered via zoom is C.
Z. Katung who represented the appellant while S. I. Suleiman
appeared for the respondent: the EFCC.

Dr. Akpobolokemi was NIMASA DG between 2011 and 2015.