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Tag: Tosin Owobo

  • Ex-air chief ‘received’ N6b from NAF funds, says EFCC investigator

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday heard how former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun admitted to have received N6billion from NAF for his personal benefit.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    EFCC said the three, on or about March 5, 2014 in Lagos, conspired to convert N21,467,634,707.43, property of NAF, which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: criminal breach of trust.

    An EFCC investigator, Tosin Owobo, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Adigun made a statement at EFCC, which was tendered in court.

    He said the second defendant disclosed in his statement that he incorporated Delfina Oil and Gas, Hebron Housing Limited, Mcallam Oil and Gas, Trapezites BDC Limited.

    Owobo added: “He said he is the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.

    “He said the names of the directors are all pseudonyms and not names of any member of his family.

    “In his statement, he wrote that out of about N16.9billion inflow from the Nigeria Air Force related accounts into his companies, he only benefited about N6billion

    “He said the chief of Air Staff and others would account for theirs.

    “He also stated that the whole money was not shared, as some jobs were executed.

    “He further wrote in his statement that he would be willing to let go of properties worth the sums of money he benefited.”

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    When asked to state how he came about Trapezites Bureau de Change Limited and his findings, the witness said upon analysis of Trapezites’ statement of accounts, it was discovered that about N3.6billion was received from various NAF accounts.

    They are NAF Jet A1 Training account, NAF Air Men Subsidy account, NAF Special Emergency Operations account, HQ NAF Camp Operations account, UCA NAF 37 Operations account and 106 NAF Camp Training account.

    The defendants were alleged to have made several transfers amounting to N21billion to different companies charged with them.

    The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Lebol Oil and Gas Ltd, Trapezites Bureau De Change, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd and Timsegg Investment Ltd.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence which EFCC said contravened Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3).

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned until April 15 and 16 for continuation of trial.

  • EFCC: NAF’s ‘diverted’ funds were for aviation fuel, Boko Haram

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator Tosin Owobo on Tuesday said some of funds allegedly diverted from the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) were meant for the purchase of aviation for fuel and for “operations” related to fighting the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said the funds were transferred from the Ministry of Defence to NAF operation account with various descriptions, including “Operation Lafia Dole.”

    Testifying in the trial of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, Owobo said NAF officers who were interrogated said the funds were for “operational activities” and were disbursed based on Amosu’s instructions.

    Amosu, former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through various companies, namely Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

    Owobo said a team of eight operatives investigated the case, that he participated in all aspects of the investigation, and that the commission did not conduct raids but searches.

    His team, he said, investigated the sources of funds which flowed into NAF operation account.

    The witness said there were inflows of N1billion on January 17, 2013; N100million on May 15, 2013 and N18.6million on June 12, 2013 from Ministry of Defence Headquarters.

    Amosu’s lawyer Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), while cross-examining Owobo, asked: “While doing analysis during your investigations, did you discover what purpose the inflow was meant for?”

    The witness said: “After we began our investigations, the NAF officers we had a discussion with told us that money paid into this account was for operational activities.”

    Ayorinde asked: “Did you ask the Ministry of Defence why the N1billion was paid from the Ministry?” Owobo said: “I cannot remember.”

    Asked if he knew what the N18.6 million was meant for, Owobo said: “We did not inquire.”

    Owobo said former Chief of Air Staff Alex Badeh was among those interviewed during the investigation, and that he made a statement.

    Ayorinde then asked that Badeh’s statement, which was not frontloaded, be provided. He said he needed the statement for his client’s defence.

    But, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo asked that the matter be stood down for 20 minutes to enable him get Badeh’s statement. He opposed Ayorinde’s application for an adjournment, saying it would further delay the case.

    However, all the defence counsel rejected the application for a stand-down, saying it was better to adjourn.

    Ruling, Justice Idris said: “Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the right to fair hearing, which means that the rights and interests of parties to a dispute before the court should be protected.

    “Where a party to a criminal trial has applied for documents in the possession of the state to enable him prepare adequately for his defence, the state has a duty to make available to that party, duly certified copies of the documents upon payment of the required legal fees.

    “In the interest of justice, I think it is more convenient to adjourn in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. I know that while justice delayed is justice denied, justice rushed is justice crushed. We shall adjourn in the interest of justice.”

    Justice Idris adjourned until May 15.

  • How we recovered N2.4b, $115,000 from ex- NAF chief – EFCC

    The Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Wednesday how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered N2.4 billion and $115,000 from former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

    An EFCC investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, told Justice Mohammed Idris that Amosu returned the N2.4b via bank drafts at the agency’s Lagos and Abuja offices.

    Owobo said his team also recovered $115,000 in one of Amosu’s residences.

    Amosu is standing trial alongside former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    They were accused of diverting about N21 billion belonging to NAF.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after the defendants reportedly refunded some money to the Federal Government.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, led Owobo in evidence.

    When Oyedepo enquired whether the EFCC had recovered anything from the N21 billion allegedly stolen by the defendants, Owobo answered in the affirmative.

    He told the court that money, cars and landed property were seized from the defendants.

    Owobo said: About N100million was recovered from the third defendant Air Commodore Gbadebo. Funds were also left over in St Solomon’s UBA account, recovered through the first defendant’s wife.

    “About N383 million was recovered through the first defendant’s wife. The first defendant (Amosu) also refunded two bank drafts of N2.4 billion to our Lagos and Abuja offices. We recovered $115,000 in one of the first defendant’s residences.”

    Owobo listed the recovered vehicles to include a bulletproof Lexus LX 570, a bulletproof Landcruiser Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Avalon.

    He added: “Various landed property and buildings were recovered from the second defendant.”

    The case continues on April 18.

  • How ex-NAF chiefs diverted N21bn to personal accounts – EFCC

    How ex-NAF chiefs diverted N21bn to personal accounts – EFCC

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, on Tuesday testified that three former Nigeria Air Force chiefs allegedly diverted N21 billion to their personal accounts from NAF.

    He said they diverted the sum through several companies which they registered personally.

    He said none of the companies had any transaction or contract with NAF.

    Owobo was testifying in the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd), former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through various companies, namely Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.

    Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Owobo said N5.9billion was transferred from NAF accounts to Delfina Oil and Gas Limited.

    He said after the money was converted to dollars, it was handed over to Gbadebo, who took it to Adigun, who in turn took it to Amosu.

    He said Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited received N6.1billion from NAF, while Trapezites BDC Limited received N3.6billion.

    Owobo said Deegee Oil and Gas Limited received N800million from NAF accounts, while Timsegg also got the same amount.

    “These companies were not into oil and gas. The N21billion was moved from various NAF accounts without appropriation,” he said.

     

  • How ex- NAF chiefs transferred billions to private accounts – EFCC

    How ex- NAF chiefs transferred billions to private accounts – EFCC

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Tosin Owobo, testified on Wednesday that a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd), allegedly set up a diagnostic centre with the funds he allegedly diverted from the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

    He was testifying in the trial of Amosu and former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo, before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    EFCC accused the ex- NAF chiefs of converting N21billion from NAF through various companies, namely Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.

    Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Owobo said his team’s investigation led to an account owned by Amosu and his wife in United Bank for Africa (UBA) in the name of Solomon Health Care.

    “We discovered a hospital and diagnostic centre located in Ikeja owned and operated by Amosu and his wife. Our team also visited the premises at 24, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, when they just started operations.

    “Some equipment were just being installed by General Electric such as MRI scanners, X-Ray machines and other sophisticated medical equipment,” he said.

    Owobo, who had earlier testified that Amosu transferred N677million from NAF to Delfina Oil and Gas and others between March 2014 and April 2015, said Solomon Health Care was funded with money transferred from Delfina Oil and Gas and others.

    He said on January 16, 2015, N145million was transferred from Delfina Oil and Gas to Solomon Health Care.

    On January 20, 2015, the sum of N45million was transferred to Solomon Health Care, while over N93million was transferred to the diagnostic company from Trapezites BDC on January 30, 2015.

    The witness said another N106million was also transferred to Solomon Health Care from Trapezites BDC on the same day.

    Other amounts transferred to Solomon Health Care, he said, were N55million on April 17, 2015; N55million on May 6, 2015 from Mcallan Oil and Gas; N78million on June 1, 2015 and N81million on June 1, 2015 from the same company.

    He said the balance in Solomon Health Care’s account as at April 39, 2015 was N360, 640,636.25.