EFCC Arraigns Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Former NIMASA DG

On Friday, June 3, 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Major General Emmanuel Atewe, a serving military officer, alongside former NIMASA Director General Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu, and Josephine Otuaga before Justice Saliu Saidu at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi. The defendants face 11 counts of conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.

Major General Atewe currently serves as Director of Doctrinal and Combat Development at TRADOC Minna. He previously served as Guard Brigade Commander at the Presidency and Joint Task Force Commander of Operation Pulo Shield in Port Harcourt.

Allegations and Investigations

EFCC stated that in June 2015, it received an intelligence report alleging that NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, paid N8,537,586,798.58 into the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield’s Zenith Bank account. Investigations revealed that Atewe and Akpobolokemi diverted significant portions of this fund through several individuals and companies acting as intermediaries.

The EFCC report shows that Atewe and Akpobolokemi converted about N6,038,350,741 into US dollars using multiple Bureau De Change operators. They then handed the money to Engozu and Otuaga, who shared it among themselves and the other conspirators.

Authorities also discovered that the suspects purchased luxury properties in Abuja and Port Harcourt and acquired shares in blue-chip companies with the laundered funds. EFCC added that the investigation is ongoing and could uncover further illegal transactions.

Context and Next Steps

Boko Haram insurgency, oil revenue shortfalls, and government corruption have strained Nigeria’s economy, increasing scrutiny on public funds. The EFCC described this case as a major success in combating high-level financial crime.

Justice Saidu scheduled the trial to commence on June 24, 2016, and instructed all parties to prepare for a full hearing. Analysts say the case could set a precedent for holding senior military and civil officers accountable.