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’’, all within a space of 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 are arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count charged bordering on fraud.
When the case was called on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, led his first witness (PW1) in evidence-in-chief.
The witness said that on the whole, NIMASA transferred cash totalling N8.5 billion into the account of the joint task force.
He also informed the court that between Sept. 5 and Sept. 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 Sept. 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 Oct. 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.”
According to the witness, these amounts represent cash inflows into the account between Sept. 3, 2014 and May 12, 2015 by NIMASA.
The prosecutor then asked the witness to also explain the various transactions involving monies that were moved out of the account between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16, 2014.
He said: “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 Sept. 9, 2014, the witness told the court that for instance, culmulatively 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 Oct. 19 for continuation of trial.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using six companies.
The companies are Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd, Jagan Global Services Ltd, Al-Nald Ltd, Paper Warehouse Ltd, Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.
According to the EFCC, the accused committed the fraud between Sept. 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.
The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The offences contravened the provisions of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
