A prosecution witness, Teslim Ajuwon, on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how NIMASA fraudulently transferred N8.5 billion into the account of the military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta –“Operation Puelo Shield’’, within nine months.
Ajuwon, a compliance officer with a first generation bank, gave the evidence at the commencement of trial of a former JTF Commander, retired Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.
Atewe is charged alongside a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over alleged N8.5 billion fraud.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count charge bordering on fraud.
Recall that a witness last week told the court how Akpoboloki acquired a house at a highbrow area of Lagos.
On Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, led his first witness (PW1) in evidence-in-chief.
The witness said that NIMASA transferred cash totalling N8.5 billion into the account of the joint task force.
He also informed the court that between September 5 and September 16, 2014, a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the account into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East Point Services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd.
Asked by Oyedepo to tell the court the various transactions that transpired on September 3, 2014, the witness said: “On that day, there was a Nigeria Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) of the sum of N2.4 billion into the account of Joint Task force and this was from NIMASA.
“On October 30, 2014, there was another transfer of the sum of N2.4 billion by NIMASA into the same account of the task force; on April, 30, 2015, there was also a transfer of N1 billion from NIMASA into the same account.
“Again, on May 11, 2015, there was a transfer by NIMASA of the sum of N1.7 billion into the same account, while the following day, May 12, 2015, there was another transfer of N1 billion by NIMASA into the account.
“First, there was a withdrawal of N100 million which was transferred to Jaggan Ltd in Diamond bank; a second transfer of N100 million was made again to Jaggan Ltd, and N100 million transferred to Paper House Ltd.
“The sum of N100 million was also transferred to Paper House Ltd, another N200 million transferred to East Point Services Ltd, N100 million transferred to Al-nald Ltd, while the sum of N50 million was again transferred to Jaggan Ltd.”
On September 9, 2014, the witness told the court that cumulatively, N150 million was transferred to Jaggan Ltd, while same amount also hit the accounts of other companies.
Justice Saliu Saidu, who presided over the case, has adjourned the case to October 19 for continuation of trial.
Atewe is charged alongside a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over alleged N8.5 billion fraud.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count charge bordering on fraud.
Recall that a witness last week told the court how Akpoboloki acquired a house at a highbrow area of Lagos.
On Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, led his first witness (PW1) in evidence-in-chief.
The witness said that NIMASA transferred cash totalling N8.5 billion into the account of the joint task force.
He also informed the court that between September 5 and September 16, 2014, a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the account into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East Point Services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd.
Asked by Oyedepo to tell the court the various transactions that transpired on September 3, 2014, the witness said: “On that day, there was a Nigeria Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) of the sum of N2.4 billion into the account of Joint Task force and this was from NIMASA.
“On October 30, 2014, there was another transfer of the sum of N2.4 billion by NIMASA into the same account of the task force; on April, 30, 2015, there was also a transfer of N1 billion from NIMASA into the same account.
“Again, on May 11, 2015, there was a transfer by NIMASA of the sum of N1.7 billion into the same account, while the following day, May 12, 2015, there was another transfer of N1 billion by NIMASA into the account.
“First, there was a withdrawal of N100 million which was transferred to Jaggan Ltd in Diamond bank; a second transfer of N100 million was made again to Jaggan Ltd, and N100 million transferred to Paper House Ltd.
“The sum of N100 million was also transferred to Paper House Ltd, another N200 million transferred to East Point Services Ltd, N100 million transferred to Al-nald Ltd, while the sum of N50 million was again transferred to Jaggan Ltd.”
On September 9, 2014, the witness told the court that cumulatively, N150 million was transferred to Jaggan Ltd, while same amount also hit the accounts of other companies.
Justice Saliu Saidu, who presided over the case, has adjourned the case to October 19 for continuation of trial.
No comments:
Post a Comment