BREAKING: Ex-NIMASA DG sentenced to 7 years imprisonment

– Obi was a former acting director-general of NIMASA

– The court found him guilty of money laundering and converting the agency’s funds to personal use

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a former acting Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Calistus Obi, to seven years imprisonment for N136 million fraud.

The court, however, gave him an option of N42 million fine.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on May 23 found Obi guilty of money laundering and converting the agency’s funds to personal use, The Nation reports.

The court refused to order the forfeiture of his seized assets.

Legit.ng had reported that a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the former acting director-general of NIMASA, charged with N136 million fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obi on an eight-count charge.

The judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, in his ruling on Thursday, May 23, however, deferred sentencing to a later date.

Obi had told the Federal High Court, Lagos, that he used part of the money to build his hotel located in Delta state. However, he stated that he refunded the money after he was held by the EFCC.

The former boss of the NIMASA was arraigned alongside Alu Dismas, a former personal assistant to Patrick Akpobolokemi.

SOURCE: legit.ng