Ex-DG Calistus Obi, Confesses How He Built a Hotel With Funds Diverted From Nigerian Maritime Agency

Ex-DG Calistus Obi, Confesses How He Built a Hotel With Funds Diverted From Nigerian Maritime Agency

During his cross-examination at his on-going trial over the before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos, former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Calistus Obi, on Monday admitted that part of the N331million belonging to the agency which he was accused of diverting was used to build a hotel.

SR reported that Calistus Obi who was also a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labor and Cabotage Service, disclosed that he transferred part of the diverted money to a firm known as Seastroke International, which built a hotel for him in Asaba, Delta state.

Though he claimed he claimed he has refunded the money when asked to do so by the EFCC, following his arraignment on April 12, 2016, alongside one, Alu Dismas, a former P.A to the immediate past DG of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two firms, before the court on an 8-count charge of converting N331 million belonging to agency for personal use, the matter has been adjourned to March 7 by 12noon.

Premium Times also reported that a judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Monday, revoked the bail of a former staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administrative and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Alu Dismas, over late coming to the court.

Mojisola Olatoregun, the judge, said it was not the first time Mr. Dismas had come late for his trial, adding that the court does not wait for an accused. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million each with sureties in like sums.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had closed the case for the prosecution on January 31, while the defence filed a no-case submission in response.

The court, however, dismissed the submission and ordered the defence to open its case.