The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged a former Commander of the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), Major General, Emmanuel Atewe, and former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime and Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpolobokemi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N19. 7 billion fraud.

Major General Atewe, Akpolobokemi and two others were accused by the EFCC of conspiracy, fraud, stealing and fraudulent conversion of the sum of N19. 744, 041, 556 billion, to their personal use.

Others whose names appeared on the 11-count charge are Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga.

However, their planned arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on Friday was stalled owing to the objections raised by Akpolobokemi, who told the court that he was not served with a copy of the charge.

The former NIMASA boss also told the court that he was not aware that he would be arraigned on a new charge, so he had not briefed a lawyer to represent him in the case.

Justice Saidu, in a short ruling, held that there is need for the prosecution to serve and give the defence enough time to prepare their defence.

He therefore adjourned the case till June 3, when all the accused persons would have been properly served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence.