Maritime Stakeholders hail court sentence of Ex NIMASA DG for graft

Abiola Seun |

Stakeholders in the maritime industry have applauded the conviction of the former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Calistus Obi for graft.

Recall that the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced Obi to seven years imprisonment for N136 million fraud.

Obi was on May 23 convicted along with Alu Dimas, an aide to Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of NIMASA.

The convicts were arraigned alongside two companies: Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment, on April 12, 2016, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion and money laundering to the tune of N136million (One Hundred and Thirty Six Million Naira).

Presiding Justice Mojisola Olatoregun found the first defendant guilty of counts five, six, seven and eight. The second defendant was also found guilty of counts two and four.

At the last sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, reportedly argued that the defendants wasted the time of the court so they did not qualify to enjoy the discretion of the court in not imposing the maximum sentence.

However, the former Chairman Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX), Ayo Adedoyin said even though it was unfortunate he was sentenced but the sentence will stop corruption in the various parastatals of government.

He said, “Parastatals in Nigeria have the same issues not NIMASA only it’s so sad its happening from them (NIMASA), but they have to start from somewhere and until there is punishment, the whole thing (corruption) won’t stop but they have to start from somewhere but it’s sad its happening from them and its sad it is starting from him.”

Though, he said he wouldn’t want to pass another on the convicted former DG conviction of parastatal head is not peculiar to the Nigerian maritime industry alone but every facet of the sector.

“We can’t say conviction of agency’s heads is in the maritime industry alone because corruption is everywhere in Nigeria but for them to get a conviction… its a very delicate thing because I can’t tell you am following the case or the matter in court, I will be lying to you but the one I know is that of the former DG , but for him he only stood in for some time.
It’s a sad situation where we have issues of putting people in public places and trust become an issues or public trust eroded but if it’s true, that he was sentenced, nothing I can say because I didn’t follow the case. So, I won’t want to pass judgement on him since court has done that already and they know why they did that and am not in a right position to condemn or praise,” he said on phone.

Also speaking, the former president, National Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt Tajudeen Alao said the sentence is a good step in the federal government fight against corruption in the nation’s maritime industry and the country as a whole.
Alao said the public treasury shouldn’t be left to be pilfered at will.

“NIMASA was supposed to be a contracting agent but the trend was changed. But, if Calistus Obi get himself mix up somewhere, the court has decided. He can appeal, make his case,but i don’t know.
Also, don’t forget that the former DG of NIMASA, Temisan Omatseye was also sentenced but he went on appeal and he was freed. Though it is not good for the industry and our view outside but it is a good omen for fight against corruption, it is not witch hunting and everyone will he careful and cautious because when it (treasury) become free for all, its not good. Crime is part of human life but when it becomes free for all, it’s not good but if graft is little, it can be controlled but when it became free like we have in the last regime, that’s bad for the country,” he said.