The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered the freezing of two accounts of Global West Vessels Specialists Limited.
The company is allegedly owned by the former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo, Patrick Akpobolokemi, former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Leke Oyewole, former President Jonathan’s adviser on Maritime and transport.
A competent source at NIMASA and Global West Vessels Specialists, told our Correspondent that the two accounts as at the time it was flagged by EFCC, had over N2.1billion dollars in them.
It was also discovered that Patrick Akpobolokemi, one week before President Muhammadu Buhari sacked him, as the Director General of NIMASA, paid over $50Million into one of the accounts.
The source said Global West Vessels Limited, was initiated and nurtured to fruition by the late Captain Romeo Itima, before it was wrestled from him, by the trio of Tompolo, Akpobolokemi and Leke Oyewole.
The source added that the Company has two major accounts, and Tompolo is sole signatory to one, while Apkobolokemi and Oyewole are signatories to the remaining one.
Sources at the anti-graft body told our Correspondent that one of the accounts is operated with foreign currencies and Tompolo, is allegedly the person who personally runs the account until it was frozen on the order of EFCC.
The source also revealed that the erstwhile NIMAS boss was using that particular account to siphon government money from NIMASA, in the name of paying Global West Vessels Specialists for their service.
Global West Vessels Specialists Limited is the brainchild of the late Captain Romeo Itima. He was the pioneer Managing Director and founder of the company, which won the controversial maritime security domain contract, from the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2010.
EFCC said the company was a conduit pipe for Akpobolokemi to launder Nigerian money abroad. It was also learnt that operatives have been able to trace two foreign accounts, all domiciled in United Arab Emirates to the former NIMASA boss.
Akpobolokemi, who is being investigated by EFCC over series of financial crimes, may be the first casualty of the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari in the sleazy maritime sector.
Spokesperson for NIMASA, Lami Tumaka, in a telephone chat with our Correspondent confirmed the freezing of the accounts, but declined further details in the matter. “I can confirm to you that Global West Vessels Specialists accounts have been frozen on the order of EFCC. That is the much I know about the matter. If there is any further development in that area, I promise to keep you posted,” she said.
