Just In: Ex NIMASA DG, Calistus Obi Given Seven-Years Jail Term

The former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Callistus Obi has been handed a seven years imprisonment with an option of N42million fine by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun who delivered the judgement, however, refused to order the forfeiture of his seized assets.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Obi to court on allegations of N136 million fraud.

Olatoregun had found him guilty of money laundering and converting the agency’s funds to personal use at a court sitting that held on May 23.

The EFCC had charged Obi to court alongside Dismass Alu Adoon, a former staff of NIMASA.

At one of the court sittings, Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecuting counsel, had urged the court to impose the maximum punishment of 14 years imprisonment on Obi.

This, he said, would serve as a deterrent to other civil servants.

President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Obi as the acting director general of NIMASA two months after he assumed office in 2015.

Patrick Akpobolokemi, Obi’s predecessor, had been fired after the president ordered the dissolution of boards and the sack of all heads of federal government parastatals.

Akpobolokemi is currently being prosecuted for corruption while in office.