BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
Calistus Obi, a former acting director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been convicted for money laundering. He has therefore been sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
But the federal high court in Lagos also gave him an option of a fine. The option is for him to pay a sum of N42 million.
Obi would perhaps be glad that he has something to celebrate. This is because had the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun granted all the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC the penalties would have been much more.
Had the prayers been granted Obi would have been handed 14 years behind bar and also have his seized properties forfeited to the federal government.
He was charged to court on allegations of N136 million fraud. He was said to have converted the agency’s money for personal use. Obi was appointed in acting capacity to head NIMASSA in 2015.