There was a surprise at the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan yesterday when a defence witness testified that a prosecution witness in the murder case involving a lawyer, admitted to substituting the murder weapon.
The lawyer, Yewande Oyediran, is standing trial for allegedly stabbing her husband, Lowo, to death on February 2, last year, at their Ibadan home.
Kayode Oloyede, who claimed to be a farmer and a relative of the witness, told the court that the witness, who is the couple’s landlord, told him in private that the incident was the second killing in his house.
Oloyede started his testimony by telling the court that the assertions of the landlord, Chief Adelodun Akinpelu, that he does not know Michael Folorunso Ogunlana, alias Michael Lana, was also false.
He added that both of them are relatives and they are known to each other.
The witness told the court how Akinpelu told him and his younger brother, Michael Lana, about how he swapped the murder weapon.
In his words: “I had a meeting with my younger brother, Michael Lana, sometimes last October and during the meeting there was a certain number calling his phone persistently.
‘’I asked my brother to pick the call and it turned out to be Chief Akinpelu who told him to come over to his house at Idi Odan (Ibadan). I went to his place with my brother in company of one Kanbi.
‘’Chief Akinpelu invited us in. He told Kanbi to wait for us at his wife’s shop, because according to him, we were going to discuss a very important family issue.
‘’Chief Akinpelu later told Michael that he needed his advice over the murder case involving Yewande, who has been charged for murdering her husband.
“When Michael asked what his concern with the matter was, he answered that the couple were his tenants and that the late victim fell down and died on his door steps.
‘’He then told us that when Lowo collapsed on the steps, he changed the knife that was used to stab him and that when the police came for investigations, he gave them a different knife.
‘’Micahel (Lana) scolded him for tampering with evidence and that he ought to have left the knife and allowed the police to find it.
‘’He told my brother that he didn’t want to be a witness in the case and he ( Michael) advised him to tell his lawyer that he was insolvent and won’t be able to pay his way to the court.”
The family’s counsel, Abayomi Alliyu, objected to the accounts of the witness which he referred to as ‘’hearsays’’.
But Justice Muktar Abimbola overruled him and told him that the rules of admissibility support the accounts of the witness as he was recounting an event that happened in his presence.
He had earlier enquired from the prosecuting counsel, S.S. Akinyele, if he objected to the witness’ accounts, to which he responded in the negative.
During cross examination by the prosecutor, the witness told the court that he grew up in the house hold of one Chief Ojo, who was the father of Michael Lana and that he is, his half brother.
He also said that chief Akinpelu did not mention the name of the victim during his discussion with him and his younger brother.
The second defense witness , one James Oluwatuyi of the telecommunication Company, MTN, told the court that his company has been subpoenaed to produce the logs of the calls made and received by MTN nos ..08034107268 and 08033610516, between October and November 2016.
Both the prosecuting and defense counsels claimed that they have not seen the subpoena and the defense counsel, Mr. Leye Adepoju requested for an adjournment till Wednesday, to enable him make available the necessary documents to support the defense’s claims.
Justice Abimbola obliged and adjourned till today.
Tag: witness
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Landlord swapped murder weapon, says witness
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’We found $1m in Badeh’s wardrobe’
A Prosecution witness in the trial of ex-Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh yesterday told the Federal High Court, Abuja his team recovered $1 million from Badeh’s house.
Mr. Goji Mohammed, the 15th witness to testify in Badeh’s trial, said he was part of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) team, led by Mr. Isyaku Sharu, which searched in Badeh’s house in Asokoro, Abuja.
The ex-Chief of Defence Staff is standing trial on money laundering offence allegedly committed while serving as Chief of Air Staff.
The witness, according to a report by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the team recovered some bank documents, land documents, tax documents and few other instruments.
Mohammed said the commission received intelligence report on another property located at No. 6 Ogun River Street Maitama, which was found to be Badeh’s property.
He said they accessed the building through the balcony by climbing, adding that they invited the security man of the neigbouring house to witness the search.
“When we climbed in, we were in the living area upstairs. So, we used the stairs and went to the living area downstairs and started our search from there.
“ When we got to the biggest room in the house, we saw a wardrobe, on opening it, we saw a bag and on opening it contained foreign currency.
“We saw 16 bundles of 50 U.S. dollars notes and two sealed bundles containing 100,000 U.S. dollars, which we estimated to amount $1 million.
“On further counting the money in our office, we discovered it was exactly one million dollars,’’ he said.
He said they also found a red box which he could not precisely remember what was inside, adding that they also found two way bills of furniture supplied to the building.
When the prosecution sought to tender the search warrant, the red box and the way bill as evidence, the move was objected to by the defence team.
Mr. Lasun Sanusi (SAN), counsel for the defendant, objected to the admissibility of the items, saying they were purportedly obtained from an illegal search.
Sanusi cited Section 115 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which states that the occupant of a place searched or a relation shall be at the house and see the items seized.
He said no law permitted state security agents to conduct search by looking for strangers on the street to witness it.
Sanusi said the law gave the owner of the property the impetus to nominate a representative to witness such search, if he or she could not be present.
“My lord, the witness had earlier confirmed that when they were to conduct search on the defendant’s house at Asokoro, they took him along to witness the search. Why was this other one different?
“It is on record that the defendant was still in detention when the purported search was done in his house at Maitama, which is a clear violation of the law.
“My Lord, we are not against the court admitting the search warrant as evidence, but we vehemently oppose to the admissibility of the other items,’’ he said.
However, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), argued that Section 149 and 150 of ACJA, which deals with house search warrant permitted the presence of two witnesses.
“This permission covers the person to whom the warrant is addressed and a neighbour within the neighbourhood the property is located,’’ he said.
According to him, the provision allows the person to whom warrant is addressed to look for a witness in the neighbourhood.
He, therefore, argued that no provision of the law compelled the property owner to be present before a search warrant can be executed.
Justice Okon Abang, however, adjourned the matter till Feb. 22 for continuation. -
‘How lawyer bought N8.5m car for judge’s son,’ by witness
•Trial opens in case against Justice Ademola, wife, Agi
The Prosecution opened its case yesterday in the trial of Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife, Olabowale and Joe Agi (SAN) by calling its first witness, Miss Ifeoma Ofonagolu.
Miss Ofonagolu, a Sales Consultant with an auto marketing firm, Coscharis Nigeria Limited, gave details of how she facilitated the sale of a BMW 320i car to Justice Ademola’s son, Ademide, but with payment made by Agi, through his law firm, Joe Agi and Asoociates.
The prosecution, in one of the 16 counts in the charge against Justice Ademola, his wife and Agi, accused the judge of receiving gratification of “a BMW saloon 320i, valued at N8. 5m from Joe Odey Agi, through your son, Ademide Ademola, act contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.”
Miss Ofonagolu, who was led in evidence yesterday by lead prosecution lawyer, Segun Jegede said the negotiation for the purchase of the car began between her and Ademide in December 2014, but was concluded on January 5, 2016 when Agi made payment via bank transfer to Coscharis’ account with Zenith Bank Plc.
When asked if she has heard the name Joe Agi in the course of her work with Coscharis, the witness, who said she had been in the company for about three years, said she became familiar with Agi’s name during the closing of the sales transaction with Ademide.
“The name came up after we had the sale talk about the car. He requested that I sent the quote to him and attention it to Joe Agi.”
When asked to explain why Agi needed to be attentioned with quote, the witness said: “It means that if a customer wants to make payment or purchase a vehicle, he will give the name of the purchaser and who it should be attentioned to. That could be the person, who is to make payment or handle the transaction.”
The witness continued: “We started the sales talks in December 2014 and it spilled over to January 2015. The deal was closed on January 5, 2015.
“I issued an invoice to Ademide Ademola. The price of the car was N8m and the VAT was N400,000. The price was stated on the invoice.
“The car was paid for through a cash transfer from Joe Agi and Associates. The payment was made once on January 5, 2015.
“Usually, when payment has been made by a customer, he or she contacts the sales person that the payment has been made with respect to a car purchase and then, we, at our own end, will have to liaise with the bank to confirm the payment.
“As soon as we get confirmation from the bank, we issue a receipt. In this case, I was called by Joe Agi. I then went to our accounts department to confirm the payment.
“When he (Joe Agi) called, he said the transfer has been made. And I asked him what name should I look for to confirm the transfer. He said Joe Agi & Associates.
“When we checked, we confirmed that the transfer was made from Joe Agi and Associate’s account into Coscharis’ Zenith Bank account. I then issued a receipt in respect of the transaction in the name of Ademide Ademola.”
The witness added that after the payment was confirmed, the car was delivered to Ademide at 16 Babatunde Anjous Avenue in Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos.
“After receipt is issued with delivery note, a driver and the sales person will have to convey the car to the owner. In this case, the car was delivered to 16, Babatunde Anjous Avenue in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
“I went with the driver to deliver the car. I met Ademide. He was around with some friends. He inspected the car. He confirmed it was OK and signed.”
Jegede later tendered the invoice and receipt, dated January 5, 2015 including some documents marked delivery note and checklist.
Trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke admitted the documents and marked them “Exhibit A.”
Ofonagolu said she knew about the case when she appeared before the Department of State Service on December 2, 2016 for questioning following an earlier invitation by the security agency.
Attempt by the prosecution to tender the statement made by the witness to the DSS was opposed by the defence lawyers – Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who represented Justice Ademola), Robert Clarke (SAN), who represented the judge’s wife) and Jeph Njikonye (for Agi).
Although the noted that the statement was ordinarily harmless, the defence lawyers argued that in the absence of any contradiction between the extra-judicial statement and the evidence on oath of a witness, the Evidence Act did not allow the prosecution to tender such statement as exhibits.
Responding, Jegede expressed surprise about the defence’s position, noting that the objection was strange, because, according to him, the statement was admissible in law.
Justice Okeke then adjourned to today (Tuesday) for ruling.
Earlier, Jegede complained about the condition of the court room. He noted that it was not well ventilated. He sought that the court’s facilities be either improved or the proceedings be relocated to a more conducive environment.
The defence team shared Jegede’s position, but was inclined to the prompt commencement of the trial.
In a brief ruling, Justice Okeke directed the court’s Registrar to ensure that Jegede’s concern was addressed.
He noted that the court has a central cooling system, which might have been overwhelmed by the large number of people in court.
In the interim, he directed the opening of the court’s windows for improved ventilation.
Before calling the witness, Jegede made an opening statement, providing a synopsis of the prosecution’s case, in compliance with the provision of Section of 300 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Jegede said: “Cognisance on the burden on the prosecution to prove all the 16 counts beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution will call 14 witnesses
“Of the 14 witnesses 12 are fact witnesses, while the other two – the Executive Secretary of the National Judicial Council and the Chief Register of the Federal High Court – have been subpoenaed to produce those documents that are difficult to obtain by the prosecution.
“Among the fact witnesses, who the prosecution will call, is an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), who will testify mainly on the search conducted at the first defendant’s residence on October 7, 2016.
“The witness will disclose that, among the items found, were cash sums of N54m, $121,000, two pump action rifles with several rounds of ammunition, held by the first defendant without valid licence,” Jegede said.
He added that the prosecution will also call one Ojima Etuh, a former Legal Assistant to Justice Ademola, to testify as a prosecution witness.
Another, he said, is Dr. Shaibu Teidi, who is to testify on how Justice Ademola allegedly demanded N25m bribe as pre-condition for granting him bail while he was standing trial before the judge some years back.
“Dr. Shaibu Sani Teidi will testify concerning his travails in the hands of the first defendant (Justice Ademola) when the witness was charged before him in connection with pension fund scandal.
“Dr. Teidi will testify on the circumstances leading to the demand of N25m bribe in order to enable the witness to leave the dingy cell of Kuje prison.
“He will cap his testimony with how he took his case to the Court of Appeal and the NJC.
“Your lordship will also hear from Dr. Sani Teidi’s spouse, who petitioned the National Judicial Council and Mr, Faboro who will corroborate his testimony.
“An expert witness will testify on the illegal possession of firearms. In the course of the trial, the prosecution will tender documents to prove the guilt of the defendants.
“At the end of the trial, when the burden of proof in all the 16 counts has been discharged, the prosecution will be asking your lordship to find the three defendants guilty as charged,” Jegede said. -
Witness to court: how Ofili-Ajumogobia used uncompleted building to open account
An Ikeja High Court yesterday heard how Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, used an uncompleted building to open a corporate account with Diamond Bank Plc.
A prosecution witness and staff of the bank, Mr Ademola Oshodi, spoke yesterday before the court presided by Justice Hakeem Oshodi.
Oshodi, who was led in evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, gave the name of the judge’s corporate account as Nigel & Colive with number 0036103605.
He said the requirements for opening such accounts include filing of a corporate account form and submission and verification of necessary documents of the company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The witness said Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia satisfied all the account opening requirements except for the address given as the company’s corporate office, 18, Lai Bende St, Fajuyi Estate.
He said the property on the address turned out to be an uncompleted building owned by the judge.
The witness said the property being a building under construction could have stalled the opening of a corporate account in her favour but the bank went ahead to open the account based on the fact that the judge was a good customer.
“Before opening the corporate account for Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, she filled a corporate account opening form and submitted the company’s documents which was verified from Corporate Affairs Commission.
“We also did a physical visitation to the company’s address given as 18, Lai Bende St, Fajuyi Estate and found that the building was still under construction but because Justice Ajumogobia is our customer and we knew that the property belong to her we proceeded to open the count.”
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla, are facing a 30-count charge bordering on perversion of justice, graft, unlawful enrichment, providing false information to the EFCC and forgery.
Four of the charges directly affected Obla and are centred on an alleged N5 million bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate.
The remaining 26 charges are on the huge transactions that passed through the personal and corporate accounts of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.
The EFCC alleged that about $793,800 passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015 and that the judge used the money to buy a house in London.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were granted bail on self recognisance.
At the resumed sitting of the court yesterday, Oshodi gave insight into how he moved foreign currencies into the domiciliary and corporate account of the judge.
Oshodi, while being led in evidence by Oyedepo, told the court that he managed the bank accounts of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, with number 0029928474, 0032091183 and 0036103605.
The witness said he introduced Abba Said, a Bureau de Change operator, to the judge.
The banker added that he usually visited Justice Ofiili-Ajumogobia at home and in her chamber at the Federal High Court on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos to collect huge cash mostly in dollars to be deposited in the judge’s account.
Justice Oshidi adjourned the matter to January 30 for continuation of trial. -
Witness: Saraki did not buy property from rice, sugar sales
THE trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on charges of false assets declaration resumed yesterday, with a witness faulting Saraki’s claim of acquiring a property in Lagos from proceed of his sale of rice and sugar.
The witness, Michael Wetkas, was cross-examined by Saraki’s lawyer Paul Usoro (SAN) at the resumption of proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The prosecution witness, who was being cross-examined for the 13th day since the trial, said Saraki bought the property at 17A and B, Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2006 from loans he secured from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
Yesterday, Usoro asked Wetkas to read from Saraki’s asset declaration forms, which had been tendered as exhibits.
In the asset declaration form, dated July 11, 2007, which Saraki filed at the end of his first term as Kwara State governor, he claimed to have acquired the property with a N497 million loan.
In the form he filed on June 3, 2011 at the end of his second term as governor, he claimed to have acquired the property in 2006, in addition to five others in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 2000 from proceeds from sale of rice and sugar.
Upon Usoro’s request, Wetkas read from the GTB bank statement in relation to Saraki’s account from 2005 to 2015.
The witness confirmed that Saraki obtained three loans of N380 million, N380 million and N400 million in relation to the property he acquired.
Wetkas said: “In 2006, the balance was N9,779,109.79 before the loan was credited. This first loan was used to pay the one before. The loan amount was N380 million.
“The property it was used to buy was worth N256.3 million. There was five per cent charge translated into N12,815,000.
“It was liquidated on February 5, 2007. When the loan was liquidated, it took the balance to a debit balance N231,552,804.93
“Then another loan was taken of N380 million on the same February 5, 2007. The second loan was taken to defray the debit. It now gave a credit balance of N98 million.
“As of the 2007 declaration, there was debit outstanding of the loan of up to N300 million, which was not declared in the 2007 declaration.
“There were other inflows into the account for the purposes of paying. On August 27, 2009, the balance on the account shows an inflow into the account of N100 million through banker’s cheque.
“On July 31, 2009, it shows that the account was in debit of about N93,933,654.15. After the inflow of N100 million on August 27, it went into a credit balance of N6,066,345.6
“On April 30, 2009, the account was in debit position of N17 million. On the same date, there was loan disbursement of N400 million,” he said.
Wetkas confirmed that when Saraki declared the property at 17A and B Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi in 2011, he (Saraki) had finished repaying the loans.
When asked about his opinion in relation to the allegation in Count 3, where Saraki was accused of abusing his office by repaying his loan from state’s funds, Wetkas insisted that “the funds were proceeds of crime”.
Wetkas said: ”I have to be careful in answering your question. I have said I did not investigate the account of Kwara State government.
“But I have earlier said in my evidence-in-chief that the loans were paid back through cash lodgments made into the account of the defendant with GTB at G.R.A, Ilorin.
“Aides to the defendant serving him when he was governor have told us that the defendant gave them the cash at the Government House in Ilorin.
“The account officers have told us how the lodgments were made. We believe that the funds were proceeds of crime because the defendant could not have engaged in the trade of rice and sugar while he was still governor.
“We believe that the cash given to the aides amounted to money laundering because they were above the threshold stipulated by law.
“So, if the case of money laundering is established against a public officer while in office, that is an abuse of office.”
At that point, Usoro interjected and urged the tribunal not to record Wetkas evidence on money laundering on the grounds that the CCT lacked jurisdiction to inquire into money laundering allegations.
Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the CCT on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made as Kwara State governor between 2003 and 2011.
Proceedings resume in the case today.
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$2.2b arms deals: Dasuki to call Jonathan as witness
Ex-NSA prefers political solution
Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, who is on trial for alleged mismanagement of $2.1billion arms funds, would like former President Goodluck Jonathan to be his witness, it was learnt yesterday.
Dr. Jonathan has faulted the charges against Dasuki, claiming that the ex-NSA could not have stolen about $2.2billion votes for arms. “We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army,” he said in a recent interview at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.
Speaking with our correspondent, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), the ex-NSA’s counsel, said Dasuki wanted Jonathan to testify in court.
Raji said: “It will be desirable for Jonathan to testify for the ex-NSA. It will throw greater light into grey areas. And it will serve the interest of Justice.
“It will be fantastic for him to go to court to testify. Dasuki is an agent of a disclosed and known principal.”
Another member of the legal team said: “With what Jonathan said in London, the only logical thing for him to do is to see it through.
“We want Jonathan to follow-through. If he backs out, it will be bad.”
But, in Raji’s view, a political solution will be better than trial because of the “characters involved”.
He said: “But, frankly speaking, I pray for a political solution to the problem because of the characters involved.
“Both the accused and the government should embrace a political solution to the problem.”
Asked if Dasuki is ready for political solution, he added: “Why not? He is.
”I believe the President is very sincere. He wants to reorganise Nigeria and he deserves the support of all.
“With a political solution, Mr. President will be in good stead to overcome unnecessary distractions in order to succeed.
“I pray that everybody will key into his vision and the economic challenges facing the nation.”
Those point of advising a political solution is that it will not be “tidy” for Dasuki to mention all those who got money from his office. Among them, said a source, are a prominent traditional ruler in the North, who reportedly got N500 million and a former Head of State.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said Dasuki’s defence team was banking on Jonathan’s testimony.
The source said: “All is set for the defence of Dasuki, who is still insisting on an open trial to let Nigerians know the beneficiaries of the arms cash.
“One of those who may testify is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan whose remarks in London appeared to be the first phase of the war chest of the ex-NSA.
“You know the ex-NSA said he acted on Jonathan’s instructions in disbursing some of the cash. And from the look of things, the ex-President is now ready to accept responsibility for whatever Dasuki did.
“We believe it has reached a level that Nigerians must know what really happened, how funds were disbursed and who got what.
“This is why a secret trial is not a viable option, with the way things are going.”
The source added: “So far, we have secured the consent of Jonathan to appear in court for Dasuki. This will make the trial worth it.”
It was learnt that a traditional ruler allegedly benefitted from the arms funds to the tune of about N500million.
Another source added: “Dasuki has a list of highly-placed beneficiaries from the arms cash. A particular traditional ruler got about N500million as a gift from the government through the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA). There are many hidden beneficiaries whom Nigerians must know.
“Nigerians will be shocked by some revelations which will come up during the trial. Nothing short of open trial will let Nigerians know the truth. We are ready for this.”
Dasuki had on December 13, 2015 said he disbursed the funds on Jonathan’s instructions.
The ex-NSA said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.
“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.
“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP. Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-I-C) for distribution on the instruction of the President.
“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and Administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.
“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment in which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa.”
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‘How I got $4m from Jonathan’s aide
A witness has told the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how he got $4 million cash from for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-aide Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.
It was during the trial of the former Senior Special Assistant of Domestic Affairs to the ex-President on a 23-count charge of concealment, retention of proceeds of crime, and failure to furnish information, before Justice Mohammed Idris.
He was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A Bureau de Change operator Murtala Abubakar said he received about N1.6 billion from Mr. Dudafa through five companies – Pluto Properties and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property, Rotato Interlink Services, Seagate Property and Ebiwise Services Limited – between 2013 and 2015.
Dudafa is standing trails with Joseph Iwejuo.
The witness said he had known Mr. Dudafa since his days as Commissioner for Local Government in Bayelsa State
“He (Mr. Dudafa) usually sent two of his employees – Festus and Jahman – with dollars in order to change same and deposit the naira equivalent into specific accounts he provided via text messages,” said Mr. Abubakar.
The witness said he received those text messages from Mr. Dudafa on his Samsung mobile phone. The mobile phone and an Ownership Attestation Form were admitted and marked as Exhibits E and E1 respectively.
When asked whether all the instructions on how to disburse the money were received via text messages, Mr. Murtala replied in the affirmative; but added that in the last transaction, Mr. Dudafa invited him to the Presidential Villa and handed to him $4 million cash.
The witness was confronted with exhibits A – B3 in which he identified all the transactions that transpired between himself and Mr. Dudafa from 2013 to 2015 both from his companies’ accounts and his personal account.
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Witness: Badeh’s agent told me to claim Abuja house
A prosecution witness in the trial of ex-Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh said yesterday that Badeh’s agent allegedly told him to covet a multi-million naira Abuja property, which his firm, Ryte Builders, built for the retired military chief.
Mustapha Yerima spoke in Abuja yesterday while testifying at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the trial of Badeh and a company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, for allegedly diverting Nigeria Air Force’s (NAF’s) N1.4 billion between January and December, 2013.
The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Yerima, who concluded his testimony yesterday as the fourth prosecution witness, said retired Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (NAF’s ex-Account director, who had testified as the first prosecution witness) invited him to the Defence House, after his (Yushau’s) retirement to coordinate the handover of documents and discuss progress of construction of the plaza.
“In my evidence-in-chief, I testified that PW1 (Yushau) called a meeting after he retired from the Nigerian Air Force. The meeting held at the Defence House and we discussed progress of work in the plaza. Barrister Timothy Muje and Barrister Umar were in attendance.
“I had met Barrister Umar once or twice before that meeting, but there was not much familiarity between us. It was after this that Muje called and asked that we meet somewhere at Wuse II. This was the same day the EFCC invited me to their office.
“Muje handed some documents to me, but he failed to give me the Power of Attorney, and Deed of Assignment between Ryte Builders and the other company, which I did not know its name.
“I asked Muje about the Power of Attorney and Deed of Assignment. As at the time I asked him for those documents, he did not give them to me, because the idea was for me to go and claim the property as instructed,” he said.
On whether he reflected the meeting with Muje in his statement to the EFCC on the same date, Yerima, who was cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said he did not reflect their meeting where he (Muje) gave him some documents and told him (the witness) there was an agreement to request the witness to protect them.
Yerima said his statements to EFCC were a summary of all that happened in the transaction that lasted about three years.
“There are so many events that happened within the transaction period that I did not put in writing and at that time, everyone was confused. So anybody I spoke to would only give me an idea of how to protect him. So, the statements were summary of what happened around three years. What I wrote in my statement on January 6 was in response to the questions put to me by the EFCC,” the witness said.
He added that he would not be surprised that, in all statements he made to the EFCC, he did not state that he met Muje, where he told me that they had agreed he should protect them.
ustice Okon Abang adjourned further trial to noon today.
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Witness: how Badeh paid N650m for land in Wuse II
An EFCC witness, Mustapha Yarima, yesterday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that retired Air Commodore Abdullahi Yasha’u, gave him N650 million to pay for plot 1386 in Wuse II, Abuja.
Yarima spoke during cross examination in the ongoing trial of former Chief of Air Staff Alex Badeh, who was arraigned by the EFCC on allegations of diverting N3.97billion money meant for fighting insurgents in the Northeast.
Badeh pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The witness testified that the Yasha’u, who was the former Director of Finance of the Nigeria Air Force directed him to pay the amount in cash on behalf of his boss (Alex Badeh).
Cross-examined by Akin Olujimi (SAN), the defence counsel, the witness admitted that Yusha’u gave him N650 million to pay to the owner of the land in one tranche.
“And anytime Yusha’u is engaging us for those assignments, he keep telling us that it is for his boss (Alex Badeh),” Yarima said.
He said that the land was acquired for the purpose of building a shopping complex in Wuse II, Abuja.
The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang, adjourned hearing till June 15 for continuation of cross examination.
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How NAMA was looted, by EFCC’s witness
The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday heard how Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director/Chief Executive Ibrahim Abdulsalam and others allegedly stole N6.8billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him and Nnamdi Udoh (still at large), Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Invesment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd on a 21-count charge.
EFCC said on August 19, 2013, the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst themselves to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2,847,523,975.00 to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd under the pretense that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.
A prosecution witness, Stanbic IBTC Bank’s Compliance Officer, Babatunde Adenekan, said NAMA funds were paid into Delosa’s account and distributed to others between 2013 and last year.
He said last February 12, the defendants allegedly transferred N10million to Paperhouse Limited, as well as N8.6million to Gabson Bureau de Change last March 7.
Adenekan said N10million and N6.4million were transferred to Paperhouse last March 7.NAMA’s funds, he said, were moved to Delosa’s account from where they were transferred to Randville.
He added: “On October 16, 2014, N38.8million came into Delosa account. That same day, N9million in four places were transferred into Randville account. That same day, N2.3million was also paid into Randville account.
“On November 11, 2014, N98.2million came into Delosa account. On that day, N9million in three places were transferred to Randville. Another N3million was transferred to Randville the same day, while N7.8million was transferred to Multeng and Tours Limited.
“On December 3, 2014, N88.9million came in. The same day, N9million in four places were transferred to Randville and another N2.5million was transferred to Randville.
“On December 7, 2014, N37.5million came into Delosa account from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). On the 18th, N10million in three places were transferred to Randville Investment Limited and later another N7million on the same day”, he stated.
He said Randville has 10 fixed deposit accounts and one current account. The signatories, he said, were Agbolade Segun (third accused) and his wife, Agbolade Susan.
According to him, N3.1 million was also transferred to Segun’s personal account on January 2, 2013, adding that Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun also benefited from the cash distribution.
Justice Babs Kuewunmi adjourned till May 30.