Dasuki ordered $40m payment to Jonathan’s cousin– Witness
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday opened
its case against a cousin to former president Goodluck Jonathan,
Azibaola Roberts, with revelations of how the ex-National Security
Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki instructed the payment of $40million in
favour of his company, One Plus Holdings.
The anti-graft agency made the disclosure through its first prosecution witness (PW1), Ibrahim Maye.
Roberts with his wife Stella, were on June 8, 2016 arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of about $40 million.
The witness is a retired Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office, a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, Maye told the court that Dasuki had endorsed a memo to him with details of the company’s account.
He said the memo was sent to him in his capacity as the Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office, a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“On August 20, 2014, the NSA endorsed a memo to me which originated from the director of finance and administration in the Office of the NSA giving bank details of a company called One Plus.
“The memo also gave details of the purpose for which the company was to be paid the sum of $40 million.
“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and my understanding of that was that I should prepare the payment mandate for One Plus for his signature.
“After I got the memo, I prepared the payment mandate, sent it to him, he signed and sent it back to me.
“The subsequent necessary action was for me to counter sign, which I did and I sent it to the CBN for payment,” Maye said.
Before the trial, the defence counsel, Chief Chris Uche had prayed the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the defendants prepare for their defence.
He complained of his inability to meet with his clients since they were granted bail.
Specifically, Uche explained that when bail was granted, his team had difficulties in perfecting the bail, adding that the conditions were only perfected last week.
Uche said they needed more time to prepare their defence because there were some documents that they needed to subpeona from the office of the NSA.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the case to July 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.
The anti-graft agency made the disclosure through its first prosecution witness (PW1), Ibrahim Maye.
Roberts with his wife Stella, were on June 8, 2016 arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of about $40 million.
The witness is a retired Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office, a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, Maye told the court that Dasuki had endorsed a memo to him with details of the company’s account.
He said the memo was sent to him in his capacity as the Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office, a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“On August 20, 2014, the NSA endorsed a memo to me which originated from the director of finance and administration in the Office of the NSA giving bank details of a company called One Plus.
“The memo also gave details of the purpose for which the company was to be paid the sum of $40 million.
“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and my understanding of that was that I should prepare the payment mandate for One Plus for his signature.
“After I got the memo, I prepared the payment mandate, sent it to him, he signed and sent it back to me.
“The subsequent necessary action was for me to counter sign, which I did and I sent it to the CBN for payment,” Maye said.
Before the trial, the defence counsel, Chief Chris Uche had prayed the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the defendants prepare for their defence.
He complained of his inability to meet with his clients since they were granted bail.
Specifically, Uche explained that when bail was granted, his team had difficulties in perfecting the bail, adding that the conditions were only perfected last week.
Uche said they needed more time to prepare their defence because there were some documents that they needed to subpeona from the office of the NSA.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the case to July 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.
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