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Tag: witness

  • $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    The trial of former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr. Andrew Yakubu was yesterday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to the absence of prosecution witnesses.

    When the matter was called up, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ben Ikani, told the court that the matter was for continuation of trial, but that unfortunately, his witnesses were not present in court.

    Yakubu’s counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) also told the court that in the circumstance, he had filed an application seeking the leave of court for his client to attend to his health.

    Raji told the court that the prosecution had not opposed the application.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, granted the application, as the prosecution raised no objection and adjourned the matter until May 10.

    On the last adjourned date, Mr. Waziri Nitte, the second prosecution witness, told the court how he and his colleagues raided a house in Kaduna and recovered a huge sum of money in foreign currency.

    Nitte, who was led in evidence by Ikani, told the court that he was a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The witness, who said they acted based on an intelligence report that the house in question was stashed with money, added that the money recovered was taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “We searched the house and found a safe which was locked, we engaged the services of a locksmith who unlocked the safe and upon counting the money, it amounted to $9,772, 800 and £74,000.”

    Yakubu was arraigned by the EFCC on a six-count charge, bordering on non-disclosure of assets and fraud, charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Yakubu was alleged to have, as “Group Managing Director of NNPC between 2012 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to avoid lawful transaction, transported to Kaduna $9.8 million and £74,000.

    He was also accused of failure to disclose $9.8 million and £74,000 in his asset declaration form, a crime which contravened Section 27 (3) of the EFCC Act.

  • Alleged N2.1b fraud: Dokpesi’s wife got over N100m, says witness

    Alleged N2.1b fraud: Dokpesi’s wife got over N100m, says witness

    The trial of businessman Raymond Dokpesi resumed before a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday with a prosecution witness, Abubakar Madaki, disclosing that the media mogul’s wife, Oluwatosin, received over N100 million from the N2.1 billion allegedly paid to DAAR Investment Company by the office of National Security Adviser (NSA).

    Madaki, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said investigation did not reveal the existence of any contract between Dokpesi’s company and the office of the NSA to have warranted the payment of N2.1 billion to the defendants.

    Dokpesi and DAAR Investment are being tried before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja by the EFCC for allegedly receiving the money from the office of the NSA for an unknown contract.

    Madaki, who was led in evidence by Oluwaleke Atolagbe yesterday, told the trial court that “there was no contract and no reason for the payments”.

    The witness gave details of how Dokpesi allegedly disposed the money paid by the office of the NSA.

    He said the EFCC traced part of the fund from DAAR Investment’s account to the Presidential Debate Group.

    The witness said Dokpesi, who allegedly transferred the fund, claimed it was his contribution to the Presidential Debate Group.

    The payment was captured in a letter by Abuja Investment Company, which the court later admitted in evidnce.

    The witness also named Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa as one of the beneficiaries of the fund. He said Jijiwa confirmed in his statement to investigators that the N100 million was given to him from the fund as a soft loan

    The witness said the first defendant allegedly claimed that Jijiwa was paid as a resource person.

    Madaki said one Timawus Martins was paid N20 million, as a resource person and Matthias, a staff of AIT Yola office received N8.1 million as payment for political jingles.

    The witness also told the court that Mathias, who was in charge of Yola office of AIT, received N4.5 million as compensation for his vehicle that had an accident.

    He added: “The sum of N4.3 million and N2.3 million was used for extension of electricity installation for AIT office in Yola and another N1.3 million for borehole in AIT office in Yola.”

    Madaki also named Mrs. Oluwatosin Dokpesi, who he said got over N100m and “other various sums”.

    He also told the court that two personal assistants to the first defendant (Dokpesi), Gabriel Agoyin and Godfrey Usifoh, received N40 million and N30 million.

    Madaki said, while investigating Dokpesi’s claim that the funds were for media activities, the EFCC wrote the media organisations he listed.

    He said the EFCC obtained responses from  Silverbird, Punch newspaper,  Guardian newspapers, Kiss FM, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Capital FM, Leadership newspapers, Abuja Broadcasting, Media Trust and Nigerian Pilot Newspapers.

    The court later admitted the letters from the media houses as exhibits.

    Madaki said when the EFCC wrote the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to ascertain if there was a contract for which the money was paid, BPP responded that there was no contract and no reason for the payments.

    The witness, who concluded his evidence-in-chief yesterday, will be cross-examined by the defence when proceedings resumes in the case on March 9.

     

  • ‘Why Nigeria “ll witness low cocoa output in 2018′

    Cocoa Farmers yesterday predicted low output this year due to various factors that have not been addressed by the Federal Government.

    Visible among the problems, is the sub-standard chemicals and Cocoa inputs allegedly procured for farmers last year by the Federal Ministry of Agricilture.

    At a news conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the National President of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Chief Raimi Adeniji, lamented that the fake inputs distributed to farmers last year led to flowering and untimely ripening of Cocoa Pods.

    This he noted would result into further decline of Nigeria’s Cocoa beans production in the current 2018/2019, if procurement of cocoa inputs was not reviewed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

    Adeniji alerted President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister in Charge of the Ministry, Chief Audu Ogbeh that in spite of various complaints by cocoa farmers last year, the Ministry’s Officials still went ahead to award fresh contract to the same who supplied the same fake inputs last year such as Jute bag, Solo pump, fungicide(Champ do) Cutlass and others without considering the implication on cocoa farmers.

    The CFAN President said” it is also sad that up till now,the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has not invited CFAN to substantiate its claims, but decided to set up a Committee com prising Cocoa Research Institution(CRIN)International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA) and other for’ uncertain voyage’.

    The Cocoa farmer also used the occasion to appeal for prompt assistance to Cocoa farmers that lost their farms to inferno which according to him,consumed almost one-quarter of the Nigeria’s Cocoa farmland during the last dry season in the country.

    He urged Buhari and Ogbeh to direct the supervisory Ministry to invite Executives of the Association for discussion on way to address the problems militating against Cocoa farmers before the situation get out of hands.

    Adeniji assured the President of the support of Cocoa farmers to his administration especially on its Agricultural policy and drive to move the nation forward.

     

  • Witness: I was framed for not backing Fayose

    Witness: I was framed for not backing Fayose

    •Case adjourned till January 12 for adoption of addresses

    A former Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Chairman in Ekiti State, Rotimi Olanbiwonnu, has told a State High Court that he was roped into a murder case because he refused to support Governor Ayo Fayose for the 2014 governorship race.

    Olanbiwonnu is standing trial with six other accused persons for their alleged complicity in the killing of the former State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye.

    Omolafe was killed on September 25, 2014 at his private motor park at Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Other accused persons are: another ex-RTEAN chair, Adebayo Aderiye, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) leader Adeniyi Adedipe, Sola Durodola, Kayode Ajayi, Oso Farotimi and Sola Adenijo.

    Farotimi and Adenijo denied involvement in the killing of Omolafe and claimed that they were roped into the murder.

    At yesterday’s resumed hearing of the matter before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of High Court 6, Olanbiwonnu, who appeared as a defence witness, averred that he was taken to the Government House in Ado-Ekiti after he was arrested on July 27, 2015, 10 months after Omolafe’s killing.

    Olanbiwonnu said he was in Abuja for the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of RTEAN the day Omolafe was killed but learnt of the incident on September 26, 2014 on the pages of newspapers when he was returning home.

    The witness said the police team, which arrested him at midnight on July 27, 2015, was led by Fayose’s Chief Security Officer (CSO).

    He said the CSO took him to Osuntokun Lodge of the Government House, where he was paraded before the governor.

    Olanbiwonnu said: “When they took me to the Government House, the governor said: ‘See yourself now, I asked you to support me the other time, but you refused.’ He asked them to take me away.

    “From the Government House, they took me to the state police headquarters and handed me over to Inspector Felix Whessu, who told me that an order came from Abuja that I should be taken to the court in the morning.

    “My police statement was written by Inspector Whessu around 1.00 a.m; it was completed at 2 a.m. By 7 a.m, I was brought to the court and they waited till the court officially opened.

    “Magistrate (Idowu) Ayenimo said I was arrested with Form ‘K’ and he ordered that I be remanded. Between September 25, 2014 and the time of my arrest on July 27, 2015, I was in Ado-Ekiti, there was no investigation.”

    After the defence closed its case, Olanbiwonnu’s driver and personal assistant, Adeoye Oladele, was brought to the court to testify.

    Justice Ogunmoye adjourned the matter till January 12, 2018, for the adoption of the final written addresses of the counsel.

     

  • Witness: how ex-PDP chair’s son was killed

    Witness: how ex-PDP chair’s son was killed

    Fresh facts emerged last night that the jealous wife, Maryam Sanda, who stabbed her late husband, Bilyamin Bello, the son of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Mohammed Haliru Bello, was earlier prevented four times from carrying out the act.

    It was also alleged that bloodstains in the couple’s flat had been mopped up and murder weapon cleared by unknown persons before homicide detectives stormed the place on Sunday.

    The deceased also at the last minutes went to an ATM and withdrew cash to pay for the balance of the repair of his wife’s crashed car.

    But Maryam was said to have demanded for a divorce with the threat of cutting off her husband’s manhood.

    These facts were contained in the testimony of a witness, Habib Gajam (aka Gidado), which was published in the Lifestyle Section of  inside are wa.com.ng

    Gajam, who is a family friend, gave the graphic details of what transpired and how the embattled wife had tried to cover up the act.

    Gajam said: “Today, I witnessed the most wicked and shameful display of arrogance in Bilyaminu’s death case.

    “At about 9 to 10p.m. last night  (Saturday),  tension started to build between Bilyaminu  and his wife, Maryam,  at his residence.

    “Maryam demanded a divorce with the threat of cutting off his manhood. Ibrahim Aliero, Bilyaminu’s friend (in whose instance the drama started) intervened four times to stop Maryam from stabbing her husband.

    “Ibrahim called Auta (Maryam’s uncle) and Abba (Bilyaminu’s cousin), who had left the house moments before the drama started, to come and intervene.

    “After a short calm, Maryam broke a bottle of groundnut and attempted to stab Bilyaminu, again, but this time he held both her hands and struggled to take the bottle from her, injuring himself in the process. Unrelenting and wild, she bit his finger.

    “Uncle Auta had arrived this time to calm the situation. They both committed to Uncle Auta to let go of the grievances (at least for the night).

    “After the situation had become calm, Bilyaminu and his friend went to the Pharmacy to get his hand treated from the bite he sustained from Maryam.

    “They later went to the ATM and made a withdrawal to pay up the balance of a spare part for Maryam’s crashed car. By 11pm, Bilyaminu and Ibrahim had gone back to a calm home. Abba (Bilyaminu’s cousin) joined them in the living room.

    “They stayed till almost midnight and decided to call it a night.

    In the emotional piece, Gajam related the parting words of Bilyamin to his cousin and others.

    He also captured attempts by the detained wife to change the story at the police station in order to cover up her crime.

    The witness said: “When Bilyaminu was seeing them off, he told Ibrahim that ‘I don’t want to go back until she’s asleep’. They called it a day. Abba and Ibrahim left.

    “At around 2pm Sunday afternoon, family members were summoned to Maitama Hospital, where Bilyaminu was lying in a pool of his blood with multiple stabs on his chest, shoulder, a deep cut on his inner thigh and many bite wounds on his stomach.

    “Maryam had confessed to stabbing him to the hospital authorities. Maitama Police Station was the next point of call.

    “At Maitama Station, where Maryam was asked to write her statement, story changed. She claimed they got involved in a fight and Bilyaminu sustained injuries from a broken Shisha pot and that she never stabbed or hit him.

    “She was later taken to the FCT Command in Garki II for further investigation. The police commissioner instructed that the crime scene should be visited.”

    Gajam explained: “To the amazement of Abba (Bilyaminu’s cousin) and Ibrahim (his friend), who are key witnesses in the investigation, bloodstains had been mopped up, murder weapon disappeared, but flower vases and shisha pot were broken to corroborate Maryam’s earlier statement at the station.

    “In the midst of this tragedy and confusion, Maryam had the audacity and courage to change her story. More disgusting is her lack of remorse and respect for the victim’s family.

    “Someone, who divorced his first wife to be with you doesn’t deserve this. #JusticeForBilyaminu shall be served by the Almighty Allah on the day of resurrection.

    “May Allah grant Bilyaminu Jannah and bless the life of his eight months old daughter, Sa’adatu.”

    Read Also: Wife stabs son of ex-PDP chair Bello to death over text messages

     

  • How Fayose distributed money after 2014 attack on court—Witness

    How Fayose distributed money after 2014 attack on court—Witness

    A witness, Akin Apanisile, on Friday revealed how Governor Ayo Fayose distributed money to his loyalists on September 25, 2014, after the State High Court complex was attacked in a bid to prevent the hearing of his election eligibility case. He made the revelation while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Ahmed Tafa, before the presiding judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye.

    Apanisile testified as Prosecution Witness 5 (PW 5) in the murder case instituted by the state government against seven persons accused of complicity in the murder of former state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye.

    The defendants in the case are Adebayo Aderiye a.k.a. Ojugo; Adeniyi Adedipe a.k.a. Apase; Sola Durodola; Kayode Ajayi; Oso Farotimi a.ka. Oso Polo; Sola Adenijo a.k.a. Solar and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu a.k.a. Mentilo. Aderiye, a loyalist of Fayose, was murdered on the same day (September 25, 2014), some hours after people suspected to be political thugs attacked the court and beat up a judge, Justice John Adeyeye. Apanisile (22) told the court that Fayose (who was then governor- elect) gave money to those who followed him to the court on the day of the incident at Spotless Hotel owned by him (Fayose).

    The witness revealed that Fayose handed the money to the late Omolafe to distribute to the boys who followed him to the court on that fateful day. Apanisile claimed that the late ex-NURTW boss did not give money to the followers of the first accused person (Ojugo), who was the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at the time which, he said caused a rift among the duo.

    The witness said: “We went to Spotless Hotel and at the hotel, Fayose gave the late Omolafe money to distribute to those who went to the court but Omolafe did not give the boys of Ojugo money and Ojugo was angry and said he (Omolafe) did not owe him (Ojugo) more than seven bullets.” Under cross-examination from counsel to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, Mr. Biodun Fasakin, Apanisile said: “We followed Fayose to the court on September 25, 2014 and on that day, I rode on my bike.

    There was a big crowd of people cheering Fayose on that day.” Under cross-examination from counsel to 5th and 7th defendants, Mr. Lekan Olatawura, Apanisile admitted that he was among who wielded canes on the day of the attack on court. Apanisile added that none of the accused persons in the dock shot Aderiye on the day he was killed. Apanisile had earlier told the court that the late Omolafe adopted him after he lost his parents claiming that his father died in 2008 while his mother died in 2015, but had earlier told the court that he met Omolafe in 2014.

    He had earlier told the court that the 6th defendant (Adenijo), alongside other defendants stormed the late Omolafe’s private park in a white Hilux van on the day the deceased was killed in 2014 but in another breath said he knew Adenijo in 2015. Under cross-examination from counsel to the 6th defendant, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, Apanisile was given a sheet of paper to append his signature with his signature tendered and admitted as Exhibit 19. The witness’ statement volunteered to the Police was earlier tendered by the prosecution counsel and was admitted and marked Exhibit 18. While adjourning the case to next Wednesday, July 19, Justice Ogunmoye stressed that the prosecution should be ready to close its case on the next adjourned date for the defendants to open their defence.

  • Witness to Court: Fayose distributed money after 2014 court attack

    Witness to Court: Fayose distributed money after 2014 court attack

    A witness, Akin Apanisile, on Friday revealed how Governor Ayo Fayose distributed money to his loyalists on September 25, 2014 after the State High Complex was attacked in a bid to prevent the hearing of his election eligibility case.

    He made the revelation while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Ahmed Tafa, before the presiding judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye.

    Apanisile testified as Prosecution Witness 5 (PW 5) in the murder case instituted by the state government against seven persons accused of complicity in the murder of former state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye.

    The defendants in the case are Adebayo Aderiye a.k.a. Ojugo (1st) Adeniyi Adedipe a.k.a. Apase (2nd), Sola Durodola (3rd), Kayode Ajayi (4th), Oso Farotimi a.ka. Oso Polo (5th), Sola Adenijo a.k.a. Solar (6th) and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu a.k.a. Mentilo (7th).

    Aderiye, a loyalist of Fayose, was murdered on the same day (September 25, 2014), some hours after people suspected to be political thugs attacked the court, beat up a judge, Justice John Adeyeye.

    Apanisile (22) told the court that Fayose (who was then governor-elect) gave money to those who followed him to the court on the day of the incident at Spotless Hotel owned by him (Fayose).

    The witness revealed that Fayose handed the money to the late Omolafe to distribute to the boys who followed him to the court on that fateful day.

    Apanisile claimed that the late ex-NURTW boss did not give money to the followers of the 1st accused person (Ojugo), who was the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at the time which, he said caused a rift among the duo.

    The witness said: “We went to Spotless Hotel and at the hotel, Fayose gave the late Omolafe money to distribute to those who went to the court but Omolafe did not give the boys of Ojugo money and Ojugo was angry and said he (Omolafe) did not owe him (Ojugo) more than seven
    bullets.”

    Under cross-examination from counsel to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, Mr. Biodun Fasakin, Apanisile said: “We followed Fayose to the court on September 25, 2014 and on that day, I rode on my bike. There was a big crowd of people cheering Fayose on that day.”

    Under cross-examination from counsel to 5th and 7th defendants, Mr. Lekan Olatawura, Apanisile admitted that he was among who wielded canes on the day of the attck on court. Apanisile added that none of the accused persons in the dock shot Aderiye on the day he was killed.
    Apanisile had earlier told the court that the late Omolafe adopted him after he lost  his parents claiming that his father died in 2008 while his mother died in 2015 but had earlier told the court that he met Omolafe in 2014.

    He had earlier told the court that the 6th defendant (Adenijo), alongside other defendants stormed the late Omolafe’s private park a white Hilux van on the day the deceased was killed in 2014 but in another breath said he knew Adenijo in 2015.

    Under cross-examination from counsel to the 6th defendant, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, Apanisile was given a sheet of paper to append his signature with his signature tendered and admitted as Exhibit 19.

    The witness’ statement volunteered to the Police was earlier tendered by the prosecution counsel and was admitted and marked Exhibit 18.

    While adjourning the case to next Wednesday, July 19, Justice Ogunmoye stressed that the prosecution should be ready to close its case on the next adjourned date for the defendants to open their defence.

  • How ex-NIMASA DG, others stole N754m, witness tells court

    How ex-NIMASA DG, others stole N754m, witness tells court

    An investigator yesterday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how a former Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Director General and five other officials stole N754 million belonging to the agency.

    Mr Chukwudi Orji of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spoke during his testimony in the ongoing trial of ex-NIMASA Director General Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others on a 13-count charge of stealing and fraud.

    Akpobolokemi’s co-defendants are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company — Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd.

    Orji told the court: “Vimsat Committee, a committee of NIMASA, opened an account in a bank, which had only two inflows.

    “On Aug. 29, 2015, N498.4 million was paid into that account by NIMASA and on May 20, 2015, N318 million was also paid into that account by NIMASA.

    “This gave the account a total inflow of N816.2 million. On Sep. 29, 2015, there was a transfer of N11 million into the account of one Lakewood Garden Ventures Ltd from the Vimsat Committee account.

    “The money was never used for research work as it was mandated to be. This money was part of the sharing formula of the defendants.”

    Orji, explaining the role of Vincent Udoye, one of the defendants in the alleged scam, said:”On March 6, 2015 N7.8 million was transferred from Vimsat account into the another account with Diamond Bank account with number -0020802815 of the fifth defendant (Udoye).

    “On June 4, 2015 he transferred N5 million from that account into another Diamond Bank account with number 006567038 which was also operated by him.

    “The N5 million transferred was fixed on the same day and was liquidated on Sep. 2, 2014 and he was paid an interest of N24,000.

    “The N5 million is still in his account as at the time the EFCC asked for his statement.

    “He also transferred N2.5million into the bank account of Adegboyega Olopoenia (the sixth defendant).”

    The N7.8 million disbursed by the defendants, Orji said, was part of funds from Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd which were originally from the account of the Vimsat Committee.

    “All these transfers were done in a bid to conceal the source of the funds,” he said.

    Throwing more light on the role of Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd in the alleged fraud, Orji said Adegboyega Olopoenia (the sixth defendant) was a signatory to the account of Gama Marine.

    According to him, N10 million was transferred to Vincent Udoye in six tranches from that account by Olopoenia, totalling N60 million.

    “It was conceived to be used under the guise of award of contract to Gama Marine but there was no contract.”

    The investigator also told the court how another company, Arrow World Consulting Ltd, was used to transfer money from NIMASA by the defendants.

    “In relation to Arrow World Consulting, the third (Ekene Nwakuche) and fourth (Governor Juan) defendants were the signatories to the account .

    “Our findings were that the accounts of Arrow World Consulting received the bulk sum from the Vimsat Committee account on Feb. 12, 2015.

    “They received N230 million and they received another N17 million from the account on May 6, 2015.

    “Nwakuche and Juan used fictitious names while operating the Arrow World Consulting account; Nwakuche operated as Philip Emesike and Juan operated as Udoh Emakop.

    “When we invited Nwakuche to our office, he confessed to be using the alias Philip Emesike saying he used the name in bank documents.

    “He explained to me and my team embers that he used to sign as Emesike and he demonstrated to us how he used to sign the signature.

    “N70 million was sent by Nwakuche into the bank account of Dorcas Nwakuche and N70 million was paid into the bank account of Kadice Oil and Gas Ltd.

    “The third and fourth defendants also made various transfers to different accounts from the Arrow World Consulting account,” he said.

    Orji told the court how the EFCC uncovered the forged documents used to carry out bank transactions by Arrow World Consulting.

    “Arrow World Consulting did not do any work for NIMASA, I personally led the team to visit the company’s  address at 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island.

    “I met the younger brother of the original owner of the company who was residing at the premises, I was told that the owner of the company had travelled out of the country.

    “Shakespeare Solicitors, the lawyers to the real owner of Arrow World Consulting, came to the EFCC office with a power of attorney and made a statement.

    “The lawyers commenced an action at the Ikeja High Court against the bank in which judgment was given in favour of the real owner of Arrow World Consulting.

    “The real owner of Arrow World was awarded N10million damages by Justice F. Bankole-Oki against the bank for opening the account without the consent of the owners — the number of that suit is LD/1872/CMW/2016,” Orji said.

    Oyedepo, the EFCC prosecutor, sought to tender as evidence, a letter written by Shakespeare Solicitors on the alleged fraud to the EFCC to which a copy of the judgment was attached.

    Mr Seni Adio (SAN), lawyer to Nwakuche, however, objected to the tendering of the letter as evidence, saying it was irrelevant to the charge of the defendants and also not part of the original proof of evidence.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, in her ruling, held that the letter was relevant to proceedings and was, therefore, admissible as evidence.

    She adjourned the case until today for continuation of trial.

     

  • Ngwuta lied about age, lost passport, says witness

    Ngwuta lied about age, lost passport, says witness

    SUPREME Court Justice Sylvester Ngwuta has been accused of lying on his age and on his lost diplomatic passport.

    A prosecution witness, Tanko Nuhu Kutana, stated this yesterday at the trial of Justice Ngwuta before the High Court in Abuja.

    The witness, a Forensic Document Analysis expert with the NIS, said Justice Ngwuta reported that the diplomatic passport issued to him in 2014 was missing when he was actually using it.

    Kutana said he investigated the case involving Justice Ngwuta after officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) searched his (the judge’s) house and recovered multiple travel passports.

    Kutana, who was led in evidence by lead prosecuting lawyer Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, had earlier testified as prosecution’s third witness.

    He said while Justice Ngwuta claimed 1951 as his birth year in one of the four diplomatic passports recovered from his house, he claimed 1952 in the others.

    The witness said there was doubt as to Justice Ngwuta’s claim that he lost the diplomatic passport issued to him in 2014, because there was evidence that the judge continued to use the passport after he reported it missing and a replacement issued to him.

    Kutana said: “My first observation was that the year of birth in the 64-page passport, issued in 2014 (exhibit 13C) had 1951 as the year of birth while the other three have 1952 as the year of birth.

    “After the 2016 passport was issued for the replacement of the one of 2014, which he claimed to have been lost.

    “There was evidence that he continued to use the 2014 passport, which he claimed was lost, thereby casting doubt about his claim that the 2014 passport was lost.

    “His antecedents of using the passports interchangeably raised doubt about the claim that he lost the passport.

    “When one also looked at him filling 1951 as against 1952 that he had used as his birth date, all these raise doubt about everything, including his claim to the loss of the passport,” the witness said.

    Kutana’s recall yesterday was informed by the amendment of the charge against Ngwuta by the prosecution, which on May 16 indicated interest in recalling the witness.

    Mrs. Fatunde on May 16 informed the court that the prosecution had further amended the charge on which the judge was being tried, making it the third time since the case started last December.

    By the amendment, the prosecution merely re-inserted the count in which the judge was accused of possessing more than one diplomatic passport and giving false information to the NIS concerning his diplomatic passport with the purpose of procuring another one.

    The count was part of the 16 counts contained in the original charge, but was removed in March when Fatunde took over the prosecution of the case.

    Kutana, who was being cross-examined by lead defence lawyer Kanu Agabi (SAN), said his investigation revealed that Justice Ngwuta used the diplomatic passports at the same time, but not use the two standard international passports simultaneously.

    Agabi later told the witness not to bother about what his client did with the diplomatic passports, because issues about diplomatic passports were not contained in the charge before the court.

    Upon his recall yesterday, Kukana gave details of his investigation of the case and his findings.

    He said: “I examined four diplomatic passports. I can identify them by year of issue, name and picture of the defendant contained on the data pages of the passports. The first was issued to him in 2007, second in 2012. Then, in 2014, at the introduction of the 64-page passport, it was issued to him.

    “The 64-page passport was introduced and as a matter of courtesy, top government officials in the Presidency, Presiding Officers of the Legislature at Federal Level and also Justices of the Supreme Court, for the Judiciary. The fourth one was issued to him after he declared the 64-page passport missing in 2016. The passports were issued in the name of Ngwuta Nwali Sylvester,” Kukana said.

    Kukana said the NIS, upon seeing these documents, issued Ngwuta with a replacement for the 2014 passport he claimed to have been lost.

    When asked why he said the passport issued to Ngwuta in 2014 was not actually lost, but just declared lost by the defendants, the witness said: “From the antecedents of using the 2012 and 2014 passports; and also, the conduct of using a passport on which an affidavit has been sworn to and relying on that sworn affidavit to issue a replacement; and thereafter using the same passport he reported lost to travel; it has opened our eyes to be very circumspect in dealing with report of passports no matter the status of the person. This raised security issue because, where one that is reported lost is retained, he can use it to flee the country if he is wanted for any offence,” Kukana said.

    At that point, Mrs. Fatunde announced that she was done with the witness. But, Agabi applied for a fresh date for cross-examination, following which Justice Tsoho adjourned to October 6 this year.

     

  • How ex-Naval chiefs transferred billions into private accounts, by EFCC witness

    How ex-Naval chiefs transferred billions into private accounts, by EFCC witness

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos heard yesterday how a former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, allegedly set up a diagnostic centre with funds allegedly belonging to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

    It was at the resumed trial during which an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Tosin Owobo, testified before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court.

    He was testifying in the trial of Air Marshal 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.

    The anti-graft agency accused them of converting N21 billion 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.

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

    He said: “We discovered that it is 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 in 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 N677 million 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 that on January 16, 2015, N145 million was transferred from Delfina Oil and Gas to Solomon Health Care.

    On January 20, 2015, the sum of N45 million was transferred to Solomon Health Care, while over N93 million was transferred to the diagnostic company from Trapezites BDC (Bureau de Change) on January 30, 2015.

    The witness said that another N106 million was also transferred on to Solomon Health Care from Trapezites BDC on the same day.

    Other amounts transferred to Solomon Health Care, he said, were N55 million (April 17, 2015); N55 million (May 6 2015) from Mcallan Oil and Gas; N78 million (June 1, 2015) and N81 million (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.

    Owobo said the EFCC also had cause to investigate Timsegg Investment, which he said had Gbadebo as director.

    The investigator said: “The accounts of Timsegg Investment received direct transfers from from NAF accounts. Timsegg had accounts with UBA and FCMB. We wrote the banks, and we analysed their responses and made further discoveries.”

    Owobo claimed that Gbadebo transferred N12 million from NAF Airmen Subsidy Account to Timsegg; N25 million from NAF Airport Operation Account and N20 million from NAF account on June 4, 2014.

    According to him, N10 million was transferred on July 4, 2014; N24 million (July 30, 2014); N10 million (August 29, 2014); N29 million (October 8, 2014) from NAF Jet Account and N24 million and N65million (October 8, 2014).

    Others are: N14 million from NAF Operations account on October 31, 2014; N15 million (December 2, 2014) from NAF Jet Account; N20 million (May 5, 2015) from NAF Operations Account; N19 million (May 27, 2015) from NAF account and N19 million (July 3, 2015) from NAF Operations Account.

    The funds, according to the witness, were all transferred to Timsegg’s account.

    “We discovered that most of the funds were being fixed on term basis. Upon expiration, cash withdrawals were made by Gbadebo. The funds were paid to him as his share from NAF and were for his personal use”, he said.

    Owobo said a property on 40A Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, was discovered to belong to Adigun, the second defendant, which he said was acquired with money from Delfina Oil and Gas.

    Justice Idris will rule today on an application by Oyedepo to visit some of the property allegedly acquired by the defendants which cannot be brought to court as exhibit.

    “I humbly apply for my Lord to visit the locus for the purpose of admissibility of the properties mentioned in the charges, especially those within jurisdiction”, Oyedepo prayed.

    But, defence counsel Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) opposed the application on the basis that there was no basis for it.

    Justice Idris adjourned until today for ruling.