THE former Acting Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro on Thursday narrated to a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission deceived him by telling him he would appear in court as a witness against his former boss, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Giving evidence at the resumed trial-within-trial, over a N304.1 million fraud charge made against him by the anti-graft agency, Jauro who was being led in evidence by his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo maintained that, on July 2015, a team of operatives from the EFCC led by one Mr Ghali, had visited NIMASA, while he acted as DG after the sack of Akpobolokemi.
“The operatives told me that they were at NIMASA to investigate its activities, and further enquired from me if I was a substantive or acting DG.
“I told the operatives that I was seating in acting capacity. The operatives then asked me if i would like to be confirmed as DG.
“I replied yes and the leader then told me that he will be happy if I am confirmed as substantive DG adding that my maximum cooperation will be needed.
“He then told me that they were there to investigate the former DG and then asked me about my involvement in the running of the agency.
“I told him my involvement includes: employment of staffs, procurement procedures, payment procedures, budget proposals and many other areas.
“After some days, he came back to me and said that he had discovered that all I told him about my activities in NIMASA are correct and that I had nothing to hide, adding that EFCC will now make me a witness in the trial of the ex DG.
“For me, the good news ended there, as the whole story changed after i got to the EFCC for interrogation.
“There at the Commission, I was given an asset declaration form, which i filled, while my lawyer was not allowed access to the interrogation table.
“After visiting the Commission severally, i was thereafter informed that “orders” from Abuja says that i should be detained,” he added.
But while being cross-examined, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo questioned as to whether during the time of interrogation at the Commission he was forced to make admissions, the former Acting NIMASA DG said, “no”.
It would be recalled that Jauro took over the leadership of NIMASA after his former boss, Akpobolokemi was charged to court on six separates suit involving corruption and money laundering.
Jauro was dragged to court together with Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd on a 19 counts charge which hinges on fraud to the tune of N304.1 million.
Specifically, they were docked on April 12, 2016 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The matter has been adjourned until April 28, 2017 for adoption of final written addresses.
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