News
I Delivered $15m Agency Cash To Ex-NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi, EFCC Witness Tells Court
A prosecution witness, Captain Ezekiel Bala-Agaba, testified in a Lagos Federal High Court on Thursday, that he personally delivered $15 million in cash to former NIMASA DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
The witness, Bala-Agaba, a former Executive Director of Maritime Safety, Shipping Development and Marine Operations at NIMASA, made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Captain Agaba, who appeared as the 15th prosecution witness, told the court that funds meant for pipeline surveillance were withdrawn from NIMASA’s accounts, converted into dollars, and handed over to Dr Akpobolokemi.
According to him, the money was taken to a Bureau de Change, which converted it into $15 million before the cash was delivered to the NIMASA office on Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos.
He said he subsequently took the money to the office of the then Director-General.
“The money was sent to a Bureau de Change, which later brought the dollar equivalent to our office at Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos. I asked my Personal Assistant, Ekene Nwakuche, to carry the bag and follow me to the Director-General’s office,” he told the court.
The witness explained that he collected the bag from his aide before entering the office.
“When we got to the door of the Director-General’s office, I collected the bag from him and asked him to wait outside. I then personally delivered the sum of $15 million to the Director-General.”
The witness was initially a defendant in the case but later opted to testify for the prosecution.
While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, he explained the chain of command within NIMASA and how financial approvals were processed in the agency.
According to him, the Director-General is the overall head of the agency and issues instructions to directors, who then implement policies in line with the NIMASA Act.
He told the court that he chaired the agency’s Intelligence Committee, which was responsible for certain security-related operations.
“As chairman of the committee, I oversaw its activities and reported directly to the Director-General, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi,” he said.
During the proceedings, the witness was also shown a document containing a letter from Access Bank to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing transactions in NIMASA’s accounts between 2013 and 2015.
When asked how much money he took to the former Director-General, Agaba replied: “$15 million.”
After listening to the testimony, Justice Faji adjourned the matter until April 22 and 23 for cross-examination of the witness.
The EFCC had in December 2015 arraigned Dr. Akpobolokemi and seven others before the court on a 30-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and money laundering.
Those charged alongside the former NIMASA boss include, Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, as well as Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited.
They pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired to divert funds running into over N1.15 billion under the guise of providing security intelligence in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
According to the EFCC, the NIMASA Intelligence Committee allegedly received N1,153,000,000 between December 2013 and July 2015.
Investigations further revealed that several companies contracted to execute the intelligence operations were either unregistered or lacked the capacity to perform the services, while some were allegedly linked to the defendants.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants nominated or owned many of the companies used to execute the contracts.
One of the charges stated that the defendants conspired to commit offences punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced that the results for the first day of the 2026 UTME, held on Thursday, April 16, will be released today, Friday, before midnight.
According to a statement from JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, candidates who sat for the examination on the opening day can expect to access their scores once processing is finalized later tonight
He stated that an official public announcement would follow once the release process is complete.
A total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for this year’s exercise, representing a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million recorded in 2025.
Benjamin said that candidates would be able to access their results as soon as the process is finalised.
“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight,” the statement read.
RELEASE OF RESULTS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2026 UTME
This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight.
An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
A breakdown of registration figures showed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun (137,156), Oyo (122,662), Kaduna (103,498), and the Federal Capital Territory (102,961).
Other states include Rivers (105,584) and Kano (83,167), while Borno (13,483) and Zamfara (14,861) recorded the lowest figures.
Outside Nigeria, participation remains minimal, with Côte d’Ivoire leading with 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea (16), Burkina Faso (14), and the United Kingdom (12).
Countries such as Gambia, Ghana, and South Africa recorded fewer than ten candidates each.
JAMB had increased the number of CBT centres to about 1,000 nationwide to improve accessibility and logistics.
The board also delisted 23 centres across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, and Plateau, due to technical deficiencies observed during the mock UTME.
The Board added that further details regarding access to the results would be communicated through its official channels.
Candidates who participated in the first day of the nationwide examination are advised to stay updated and follow JAMB’s verified platforms for accurate information.
Tier one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to health and social welfare with the donation of food and essential items to inmates at the Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
The outreach was carried out by the newly inducted Legacy Class of 2026 and executed under the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform known as the Fidelity Helping Hands Project (FHHP). Through the FHHP, staff identify areas of critical interventions in their immediate communities, raise funds and then receive matching financial support from the bank’s management to execute the projects.
Items donated by the Legacy class include a range of food supplies such as garri, spaghetti, noodles, biscuits, milk, and other essential consumables aimed at supporting the welfare and living conditions of inmates at the facility.
Speaking on the visit, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, described the initiative as a key component of the Bank’s culture, designed to inspire compassion and a sense of responsibility in its workforce.
“As part of our induction programme, we encourage new staff to identify meaningful ways to impact their communities. In assessing the needs of this facility, it became clear that providing food and other essentials would make an immediate difference. With over 3,000 inmates here, the daily effort required to feed and care for them is enormous. We believe that this donation will significantly support the centre’s ongoing work and contribute to improving the welfare of the inmates,” he said.
Nwagboh further emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative, noting that the bank is committed to raising socially conscious professionals. “At Fidelity Bank, we are intentional about building not just skilled employees, but responsible citizens. Initiatives like this help our staff connect with real societal needs and inspire them to make meaningful contributions beyond the workplace,” he stated.
In his response, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at the facility, Dr. Sunday Igwe, commended Fidelity Bank for nurturing a strong culture of social responsibility among its workforce. He described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that it would help alleviate some of the operational challenges faced by the facility.
Igwe further used the opportunity to caution Nigerians, particularly young professionals, against engaging in criminal activities such as fraud and cybercrime, emphasizing that personal decisions can have far-reaching consequences.
“People must understand that their choices determine their outcomes. We encourage everyone to stay focused and avoid actions that may bring them into conflict with the law,” he advised.
The Fidelity Helping Hands Project remains one of Fidelity Bank’s key CSR initiatives, enabling employee-led contributions that drive meaningful impact through inclusive development across Nigeria.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
L-R: Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Deputy Controller of Corrections, Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Dr. Sunday Igwe; Team Lead, Human Resources and Business Partner, East & South, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osayi Uwumarongie; and President, Legacy Inductees Class of 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc, Darlington Okereke; during Fidelity Bank’s donation of food and essential items to Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, in Enugu State recently.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six suspects following a foiled attempt to bomb government facilities in Akure, the state capital.
On April 16, 2026 , the state Police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, described the operation as a “major breakthrough” in neutralizing the planned attack.
The suspects had allegedly infiltrated the state after mapping out the specific location of attacks.
While disclosing the development on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, during a press briefing at the state headquarters of the command, revealed that operatives were deployed to the identified area after receiving the intel.
According to Lawal, the suspects were apprehended before the planned attack could be executed, adding that the operation led to the arrest of six suspects as well as the recovery of materials suspected to be components for the fabrication of IEDs.
The police boss identified the suspects as Adekunle Prosper, 56, Ojo Olumide, 39, Tope Kolawole, 40, Ahmed Salihu, 40, Bolaji Adebowale, 46, and Gbadebo Abidemi, 43.
He said, “A thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, the sum of N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles, among other items.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may have been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.
“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively engaged in assembling IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country.”
JAMB 2026 UTME: First Batch Of Results Out By Midnight
Fidelity Bank Advocates for Inmates’ welfare with donation to Enugu Custodial Centre
Six Arrested As Police Foil Planned Bombing Of Ondo State Facilities
Lagos APC Members Accuse Party Leadership Of Bypassing Primaries
GAC Chairman Unveils Sanwo-Olu’s Possible Successor For 2027
Atiku Abubakar To Take Final Shot At Presidency In 2027
Slain General, Six Personnel Killed In Borno Attack Buried With Full Military Honors
ADC Convention: Mark-Led NWC Ratified, Nafiu Bala, 10 Others Expelled
Akpabio Claims Iran Tensions Sparked US Embassy Exit; Official Alerts Cite Local Risks
