Skip to main content

Dasuki said I should give Jonathan’s cousin $40m – Witness


Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)
Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
The trial of Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan began on Tuesday, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Mahe who gave account of how he transferred $40m to ‘One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited’, a company owned by Robert.
Azibaola and his wife, Stella, are standing trial before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, for seven counts bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
Mahe, a retired permanent secretary, special services in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he did not know Azibaola and Stella personally but knew ‘One Plus Holdings’ through a transaction.
The witness said on August 20, 2014, Dasuki told him to pay $40m into the account of One Plus Holdings for reasons unknown.
He said, “on August 20, 2014, the National Security Adviser endorsed a memo to me which originated from the Office of the Director of Finance and Administration of the ONSA detailing the bank details of one company called ‘One Plus’ and the purpose for which the company was to be paid a sum of $40m.
“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and I prepared the payment mandate for the $40m in favour of ‘One Plus’ for the signature of the NSA. I sent it to the NSA, he signed and sent it back to me and subsequent action was for me to counter-sign the mandate and then send it to the Central Bank of Nigeria for Payment.”
Mahe had earlier told the court that his responsibilities involved matters that had to do with the ONSA. He said that the Special Services Office responsibilities in relation with the ONSA had to do with matters relating to finances of the entire intelligence community which included the Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency and ONSA.
According to him, permanent secretary, Special Security Office was responsible for co-ordination of the annual budget of the members of the intelligence community.
“After formulating the budget, the Accountant General releases the funds of the intelligence community through an account that is domiciled with the Special Security Office from where it is distributed to the various end users,” Mahe added.
He told the court that his office served as a warehouse for funds of the ‘Intelligence Community’ and went further to explain how funds were utilised.
“When funds get into the account, the NSA is informed of the arrival of the funds and proposal on the distribution to the various agencies is made to him. When he approves, the monies are sent to the end users,” said Mahe.
The judge adjourned the case till July 4 and 5, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nollywood actress, Omoge Campus, is dead

Aisha Abimbola, a.k.a Omoge Campus Nollywood actress, Aisha Abimbola, popularly known as Omoge Campus, has died. She reportedly died in a Canadian hospital. The cause of death was still speculative as at he time of filing this report. Her colleague, Bisola Badmus, broke the news of her death on her Instagram page; while ace actor, Saheed Balogun, also confirmed it to our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday morning. See Bisola Badmus’ IG post announcing the death: Other colleagues of the deceased like Ronke Odusanya, Biodun Okeowo, and Odunlade Adekola, have expressed shock over the loss of their colleague. See their posts below: Abimbola who studied Catering and Hotel Management at the Lagos State Polytechnic first featured in TV series, Papa Ajasco. She came into limelight on the back of a Bola Igida movie, Omoge Campus. The title of the movie stuck to her and became her stage name. The movie was produced in 2001. She produced her own m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arepo: IG deploys policemen, helicopter to flush out vandals

Adelani Adepegba The acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed the Tactical Operation Unit, comprising of the Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorism Unit and the Air Surveillance Team to flush out vandals and other criminal elements operating in Arepo and Ibafo areas of Ogun State. Idris said the deployment of the unit in the areas on Thursday was to ensure that normalcy returns to them in record time. A statement on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, quoted the IG as saying that the Nigeria Police Force would not watch any criminal group(s) take law into their hands, adding that he had authorised the team to deal decisively with anyone who constitutes himself as an enemy of the state. He also asked residents of the areas who had fled to return home and go about their normal businesses as the police would deal with the criminals. In another development, the police have arrested one Aloysius Ebiniko, said to be the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gunmen kill four in Kaduna village attack

Gunmen Godwin Isenyo, Kadu na Unknown gunmen on Monday evening  invaded   Gurguzu village, near  Maguzawa, an outskirts of  Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State,  killing four persons while many persons sustained varying degrees of injuries. An eyewitness put the number of those injured at six while another source said the figure was higher than six. The incident, it was learnt, took place some minutes after 6pm on Monday, when unknown gunmen rode on bikes invaded  a farm in the village and shot the farmers. Four died on the spot. Our correspondent also gathered that the injured victims were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment. Presently, it was gathered that more than 500 people from Gurguzu village were displaced and taking refuge at a primary school in Rigasa. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has sued for peace, urging residents to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses. It said i...
Post a Comment
Read more