I Used NIMASA Fund To Build Hotel – Ex DG Reveals

Mr. Calistus Obi, a former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has confessed that he used part of the N331 million he was alleged to have diverted to build an hotel.

He said this yesterday at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun during his trial.

Obi, alongside one, Alu Dismas, a former personal assistant to the immediate past DG of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two firms- Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment are facing an 8-count charge of converting N331 million belonging to agency for personal use.

The accused persons committed the offence on August 5, 2014 and were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Obi said, “I used part of the money to build my hotel constructed by Seastroke International. But the money has since been refunded to the EFCC.

“The hotel is located somewhere in Asaba, Delta State. I can’t recollect the address now. The building is completed and is already functioning. The title document of the hotel is being processed but I have the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and I can produce it before the court.”

However, he claimed he has refunded the money when asked to do so by the EFCC.

Obi’s lawyer, Wale Akoni, SAN disapproved of the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo’s questioning his client about the title document of the hotel.

“The questions asked on the title document is in order and the issue of the EFCC trying to forcefully seize it does not arise,” the court dismissed Akoni’s objections.

The judge therefore, adjourned the case till March 7 for further hearing.