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NIMASA: Court orders final forfeiture of diverted $16.5m, N127m

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2024

Anambra Arraigns Eight Pastors for Violating Homeland Security Law 2025

NIMASA: Court orders final forfeiture of diverted $16.5m, N127m

Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Lagos Federal High Court, Ikoyi has ordered the final forfeiture of $16.5 million and N127 million which were fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the federal government of Nigeria.

Justice Ogundare finally forfeited the monies, while granting an application for such orders, which was filed and moved by an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, today.

The monies, according to the EFCC, were said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The judge had on May 23, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of the monies, while granting an Exparte motion, brought before the court pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14. 2006; and Section 44 (2)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended)

The court after forfeiting the monies in the interim on May 23, 2024, had directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, to show cause why the monies should not be finally forfeited.

However, at the resumed hearing of the final forfeiture of the money today, counsel to the EFCC, Suleiman Suleiman, informed the court that pursuant to your lordship’s order made on May 23, 2024, that the order be published, the publication of the order was made on June 6, 2024, on a national daily.

“The said application is supported by 22 paragraphs deposed to by Oghare Ogbole, an investigator with the EFCC.

“The application is accompanied with two exhibits, the Interim order of the court and Punch publication of June 26, 2024. And It’s supported with the written address.

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“We most respectively adopt same and urge the court to grant the relief sought.”

Justice Ogundare after listening to the EFCC lawyer held that “order granted as prayed.”

The EFCC in the affidavit support of the application made the followings: “That on the 2nd October, 2013, the management of NIMASA under the leadership of Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi vide letter referenced: NIMASA 2007/DG/NSA/2013/006 dated 2/10/13, requested for the release of the sum of N1,123,400 billion, for the implementation of International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) projects.

“That on the 4th day of November 2013, the then President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, through the National Security Adviser (NSA) approved the requested sum of N1,123,400 billion. And that upon the release of the first tranche in the sum of N1, 123, 400 billion, an account No. 0060559139, domiciled in Access Bank was opened on 03/1/14, in which Captain Bala Ezekiel Agaba, the Chairman of the ISPS Committee/Executive Director, NIMASA, Mr. Victor I. Onuzurike and Mr. Dele T, Ejekukor are signatories.

“That no sooner had the money hit the Committee’s account, one Mr. Uche Obilor, a close associate of the chairman of the committee, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba received that total sum of N437,726,666.66 million, through his company known as Seabulk Offshore Operator Limited with account number 005326440 domiciled in Access Bank.

“That the said Mr. Uche Obilor equally received another whopping sum of N402,480 million, through his company Southern Offshore Limited with Zenith Bank Plc., account number 1013224100. And that also, the said Mr. Uche Obilor used his company known as Ace Prothesis Limited to receive the total sum of N66,800 million, through its account number 1012583949, domiciled in Zenith Bank Pic.,

“That out of the N437,726,666.66 million, paid to Seabulk Offshore Operator Limited, the total sum of N187 million, was transferred to Usaini Sabo on 06/03/2014, 10/06/2014, 12/06/2014 and 09/07/2014, who in turn converted same to US Dollars and handed them over to Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba.

“That from the said sum paid to Seabulk Offshore Operator Limited, the total sum of N67 million, was on the 23rd July, 2014, paid to Kofar Fada Limited, who also converted the money to US Dollars and handed over same to Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba. And that the sum of N66,800 million, received by Uche Obilor through his company Ace Prothesis Limited from NIMASA was equally converted to personal use without rendering any service to the agency.

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“That from the sum of N402,480 million, received by Uche Obilor through his company Southern Offshore Limited from NIMASA, the total sum of N268 million, was paid to one Usaini Sabo, who said sum to US Dollars and handed same over to Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba.

“That from the sum of N402,480 million, received from NIMASA by Mr. Uche Obilor through his company Southern Offshore Limited, the total sum of N103,100 million, was equally transferred to Haji Kawu Investment Bureau De Change and Lekay Leads Ventures Limited, which sums were equally converted to US Dollars and handed over to Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba.

“That the various sums of money transferred to the companies of Mr. Uche Obilor from the treasury of NIMASA were fraudulent in that these companies neither rendered any service nor supply goods to the agency. Rather, the funds were largely converted to Dollars for personal use and the remaining retained by Mr. Uche Obilor.

“That during the course of investigation, the total sum of $16,500 USD cash, was recovered by the Commission, part of the funds diverted from the treasury of NIMASA. And that for using his companies as mentioned above, Mr. Uche Obilor, upon invitation to the Commission during the course of investigation agreed to return the sum of N118 million, admittedly received and retained by his companies from the funds fraudulently converted from the treasury of NIMASA.

“That Mr. Uche Obilor voluntarily raised drafts through First City Monument Bank in the name of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which sums are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

“That the funds sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful act of diversion of funds from the treasury of NIMASA, through Mr. Uche Obilor, his companies and other cronies.

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“That I know as a fact that Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, the then Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development of NIMASA was convicted, sentenced by this Honourable Court, per Buba, J (rtd) and subsequently granted pardon by the Council of State.

“That in view of the findings in preceding paragraphs and upon a thorough analysis of the evidence on record, this Honourable Court on the 23 day of May 2024 made an interim order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria in favour of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) the assets sought to be forfeited.

“That I know as a fact and verily believe that this Honourable Court on the said 23 day of May, 2024 also directed the Applicant herein to publish in any national daily the said interim order of forfeiture to enable any interested party to appear before the Court to show cause why the assets should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, in favour of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

“That in compliance with the order of this Honourable Court, the Applicant herein published in The Punch newspaper of 6th June, 2024, the interim order of this Honourable Court.

“That I also know as a fact and verily believe that notwithstanding the Order of this Honourable Court directing any interested party to appear and show cause why the assets sought to be forfeited should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in favour of NIMASA, no person or party had served any affidavit showing cause on the Applicant herein.

“That this Honourable Court has the requisite power and jurisdiction to grant this application. And that it is in the best interest of Justice to hear and determine this application.”

NIMASA: Court orders final forfeiture of diverted $16.5m, N127m

(Nation)

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Nigerian researcher develops AI system to transform marine conservation, fisheries management

Published

4 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian researcher develops AI system to transform marine conservation, fisheries management

A Nigerian researcher, Dolapo Salim Olatoye, is attracting international attention with his groundbreaking work that combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ecology to develop smart monitoring systems capable of transforming marine conservation, fisheries management and biodiversity protection in Nigeria and across West Africa.

Olatoye, currently pursuing a fully funded PhD at the University of Pisa, Italy, said his research focused on developing computer vision and remote-sensing technologies that could enable scientists to automatically monitor marine ecosystems using underwater cameras, satellite imagery and sensor data.

His research, which forms part of two European Union Horizon-funded projects, comes at a time when governments and technology companies worldwide are increasingly deploying AI to tackle environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

According to him, the systems he is developing use advanced object-detection and ensemble computer vision models to identify marine species automatically, making ecological monitoring faster, more accurate and scalable than traditional manual survey methods.

He noted that while many ecological AI tools are designed by computer scientists with little biological field experience, his approach bridges both disciplines through years of practical fisheries and marine fieldwork in Nigeria and Italy, alongside hands-on expertise in deep-learning engineering.

“I build the detection models myself and deploy them as working software rather than research demonstrations,” Olatoye explained, adding that the goal is to create practical tools that close the gap between field science and engineering.

The researcher began his academic journey at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, where he studied Fisheries and Aquaculture and graduated as the best student in his department during the 2018/2019 academic session.

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His outstanding academic performance earned him a fully funded Master’s scholarship at the University of Salento, Italy, where he graduated with a perfect score before securing another fully funded doctoral scholarship at the University of Pisa, one of Italy’s leading research institutions.

Beyond Europe, Olatoye believes his work holds enormous promise for Nigeria.

With an 853-kilometre coastline along the Gulf of Guinea and some of West Africa’s richest marine resources, Nigeria still meets only about 30 per cent of its annual fish demand through local production.

Experts believe improved scientific monitoring of marine ecosystems could significantly strengthen fisheries management, support conservation efforts and enhance food security.

Nigeria is also among eight Gulf of Guinea nations that signed the Yaoundé Declaration, committing to the sustainable management of ocean resources. The Federal Government has equally identified agriculture as a priority sector under its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, creating opportunities for AI-driven solutions in fisheries and environmental management.

Olatoye said the technologies being developed for marine ecosystem monitoring align closely with these national priorities and could eventually be adapted for use by Nigerian fisheries and conservation agencies.

His work also reflects a growing global movement where leading technology companies are investing heavily in AI-powered biodiversity monitoring.

Google Research has developed SpeciesNet, an AI platform that has processed more than one billion wildlife images and audio recordings from 11 countries to identify animal species automatically.

Similarly, Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab recently unveiled Project SPARROW, a solar-powered bioacoustic monitoring system designed to track biodiversity in real time.

According to Olatoye, these initiatives demonstrate that AI is no longer being used merely to automate data collection but to revolutionise how scientists understand and protect ecosystems.

As part of his commitment to open science, Olatoye is also developing EcoQuad, a software platform emerging from his research.

The tool has already been adopted as instructional material for teaching at the University of Pisa and is designed to be openly accessible, allowing researchers and institutions to adapt it to local needs.

He expressed the hope that Nigerian and West African scientists would not have to depend entirely on imported technologies but would instead develop and customise world-class AI tools locally.

“My ambition is to build open, reproducible monitoring systems that meet the same standards as those developed by leading research groups in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada,” he said.

He added that by making such tools accessible, researchers across Africa would be better positioned to participate fully in the global scientific community while addressing local environmental and food security challenges through home-grown innovation.

Nigerian researcher develops AI system to transform marine conservation, fisheries management

News

Kalu denies ₦1bn church budget claim, says actual allocation is ₦780m

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu

Kalu denies ₦1bn church budget claim, says actual allocation is ₦780m

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed reports that his office allocated N1 billion in the 2026 budget for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu stated that the actual allocation is N780 million.

According to the deputy speaker, the reports misrepresented both the amount allocated and the purpose of the intervention.

He said that the budget provision, after Value Added Tax and other statutory deductions, stands at N780 million and is intended to support a youth re-orientation and social support programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu stated that the actual allocation is N780 million.

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According to the deputy speaker, the reports misrepresented both the amount allocated and the purpose of the intervention.

“Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this support targets 130 of these churches, averaging about 10 churches per ward, which amounts to approximately N5 million to N6 million per church,” he said.

The deputy speaker said the intervention was aimed at strengthening existing youth engagement platforms run by churches to promote moral values and discourage social vices.

“This intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency,” he said.

Kalu added that the 2026 budget had not yet been implemented and that beneficiary churches would be notified after the procurement process was completed.

He also disclosed that his office had initiated a corrigendum to correct what it described as a technical error in the procurement description before implementation.

The deputy speaker urged the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that N1 billion had been allocated solely for musical instruments, saying the intervention was part of a broader effort to promote youth development and community values.

Kalu denies ₦1bn church budget claim, says actual allocation is ₦780m

News

NACOMYO urges greater Muslim youth participation in politics at Lagos summit

Published

8 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

NACOMYO urges greater Muslim youth participation in politics at Lagos summit

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), Lagos State Chapter, has called for increased participation of Muslim youths in politics and governance as part of efforts to strengthen inclusive leadership and contribute to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria.

The call was made during the Muslim Youth Political Summit 2026, held on Saturday at the Multipurpose Hall of the Alausa Secretariat Community Central Mosque in Ikeja, Lagos.

The summit, themed “Strategic Partnership for Progress: Muslim Youth and the Lagos Development Agenda,” brought together government officials, Muslim leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for expanding the role of Muslim youths in public service and leadership.

Speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of NACOMYO Lagos, Engr. Isiaka Salami, said the summit was organised to foster dialogue, strategic partnerships and collaboration between Muslim youths and government.

He explained that the initiative was aimed at preparing young Muslims for leadership roles while commending the growing inclusion of youths in governance. Salami also appreciated the support of the Muslim Community of Lagos State and offered prayers for the late Alhaji Tijani Gbajabiamila, the Olori Ratibi of Lagos.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Hon. Rasaq Olushola Ajala, the immediate past Chairman of Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Akeem Alao urged Muslim youths to actively participate in politics and public service.

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He stressed that competence, integrity and leadership capacity remain essential qualities for young people seeking to contribute meaningfully to governance and national development.

Alao also encouraged eligible youths to take advantage of the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise ahead of future elections.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Alhaji Jubril Folami, commended NACOMYO for its sustained commitment to youth development and advocacy.

He described Muslim youths as agents of positive change and recalled the organisation’s role in defending the interests of Muslims during campaigns against the proposed return of public schools to missionary ownership.

During a panel discussion, the President of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Alhaji (Barr.) Muhammad Oyinlomo Danmole, called for strategic political participation and stronger engagement between Muslim organisations and government.

He advocated the establishment of leadership training institutions to prepare Muslim youths for future leadership positions and emphasised the importance of grassroots mobilisation in nation-building.

Responding to questions on opportunities for Muslim youths, Alhaji Muritadoh Balogun urged young Muslims to participate actively in politics while drawing inspiration from the exemplary leadership of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

He identified education, knowledge acquisition and community service as key foundations for effective leadership and called for increased Muslim representation in government institutions.

Also speaking during the panel session, Alhaja Dhikrat Matesun-Oshodi said Muslim women were ready to contribute meaningfully to governance.

She encouraged Muslim youths to embrace self-development, transparency, accountability, patience and teamwork, describing good character and empowerment as essential qualities for effective leadership.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Wealth Creation and Employment, Ambassador (Comrade) Tijani Saheed Oluwadare (Seedorf), highlighted the state government’s commitment to youth inclusion, skills development and economic empowerment.

He urged participants to take advantage of government initiatives and become actively involved in politics to strengthen youth participation in policymaking and governance.

The summit attracted a large number of Muslim youths from across Lagos State, including representatives of organisations such as NASFAT, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos, ASGAT, QUAREEB and other youth-focused political groups.

Participants resolved to strengthen collaboration between Muslim organisations and government, agreeing that leadership development, strategic partnerships and active political participation are critical to ensuring that Muslim youths contribute meaningfully to the Lagos Development Agenda and Nigeria’s overall development.