PunchNG: The Economic and F i n a n c i a l C r im e s Commission has again arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, on 13 counts of alleged N754.7m theft.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside six others on Monday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

The fresh charge marked LD/2181C/15 bordering on stealing and forgery was the fifth that the EFCC would be filing against Akpobolokemi between December 3, 2015 and Monday.

Akpobolokemi had first been arraigned alongside nine others on 30 counts of alleged N3.4bn fraud before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos on December 3, 2015.He was again arraigned on December 4, 2015 along with five others on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud before Justice Ibrahim Buba also of the same court.

There is a pending 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud against him before Justice Buba, where he is expected to take his plea on February8, alongside a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and eight others.

Last Friday, the EFCC filed another 22counts of alleged N22.7bn fraud against Akpobolokemi, Tompolo and 11 others.

In the new 13 counts before Justice Adebiyi, Akpobolokemi was charged alongside six others. His co-accused,with whom he was arraigned on Monday, are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use a sum of N346,844,680 released to them by NIMASA for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).