The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has discharged and acquitted Patrick Akpobolokemi, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), of all charges related to a N754.8 million fraud case.
In a decisive ruling delivered on Friday, a three-member panel of justices unanimously upheld Akpobolokemi’s appeal, overturning the decision of Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the Ikeja High Court, who had previously ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a prima facie case and ordered the defendant to open his defence.
The Court of Appeal, however, disagreed, ruling that the prosecution failed to link Akpobolokemi to any wrongdoing.
It quashed all 12 counts brought against him by the EFCC, which had accused the former maritime boss of conspiracy, stealing, and forgery in relation to alleged unlawful withdrawals from the account of the VIMSAS Committee.
Akpobolokemi’s lawyers, led by Barristers Ogbonna and Kunle Gbolahan, had argued that the EFCC’s case relied heavily on uncorroborated testimonies and inadmissible evidence—specifically citing Exhibits P59 to P61 and the testimonies of prosecution witnesses PW9, PW10, and PW11.
The appellate court agreed with the defence, ruling that Akpobolokemi neither served on the VIMSAS Committee nor was he a signatory to any of its accounts.
Furthermore, the court found that he did not sign or authorize any of the disputed financial transactions.
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Emphasizing the importance of due process, the justices reaffirmed that trial courts must rely strictly on legally admissible evidence and cannot admit documents simply because no objection was raised.
With this ruling, the court not only struck out all charges against Akpobolokemi but also brought an end to nearly a decade of legal proceedings initiated by the EFCC.
The EFCC, led in the matter by prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, had maintained throughout the trial that its 12 witnesses had provided enough evidence to sustain the allegations.
However, the appellate court disagreed, siding firmly with the defence.
Akpobolokemi’s legal victory marks a significant turn in a case that had long been held up as a high-profile prosecution effort in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.