The accused
Skye Bank Complaint Officer, Mr. Mojeed Olatunji, on Thursday narrated the roles he played in the alleged N22.8 billion fraud perpetrated by former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga.
Mojeed who is the first witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the Federal High Court, Lagos he received an enquiry from the anti-graft agency on January 30, 2916, demanding for the Nigerian Air Force operational account, which the bank in return, furnished the Commission with the account opening package that includes signatories to the account, mandate, statement of account, and customer’s instructions with some transaction in the account. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of these documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
The witness also disclosed that on September 11, 2014, there were debit of N2409,367,700 billion, while on September 15, 2016, the sum of N959, 750, 015, was transferred from the account to NAF Special Emergency Operation (NSEO)
”On September 18, 2014, the account was debited sum of N893,295,605, while on September 24, 2014, the sum of N556,321,894, was transferred to NSEO.on December 5, 2014, March 16, 2015, and May 15, 2015, there were an inflows of the sum of N4, 597, 837, 900; N1 billion, N1. 246, 052, 850 and N2. 886, 518, 800, from the office of National Security Adviser and Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), into the NAF’s account with his bank. on June 2, 2015, there was a payment of N1,689,498,494 billion from NAF’s account to NAF Samal Lafia account.
He said that on July 10 the sum of N1.072,111,675 billion was paid into the account from CBN and between December 11, 2014, the sum of N2. 274, 400, 173.38 billion, was debited inti the account of NSEO, while on December 12, one Emeka withdrew the sum of N11, 250, 000.
Between March 18, 24 and May 19, 2015, the sum of N695,215,729; N304,784,271; N719, 206, 592; N572,446,258, and N1.247,303,186, were paid into the accounts of NSEO with a new generation Bank.
Mojeed who was led in evidence-in-Chief by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo further stated that the sums of N1.639,215,614, ; N11.8 million; N896, 205,650,; N793, 292, 825; N652, 719, 825; N419, 392,560, were transferred from NAF’s account to NSEO’s account, between May 22, 2015 and July 14, 2015. While the sum of N7.908, 857.61 was withdrew by one Sergeant Agbogidi Murphy on September 9, 2015.
The prosecution witness said all the transactions were carried out following January 28, 2014, directive of the three signatories of the account. The three signatories to the NAF’s account were Vice Marshal Adigun, Commodore Gbadebo and POC Ifeogu.
Attempt by the lawyers led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, Norrison Quakers, SAN, Kemi Balogun, SAN and Rotimi Ogunesan, SAN to the three Airforce chiefs to stall the proceedings by objecting to the prosecution witness to testified in the matter was overruled by the court.
The three Air Force officers were arraigned before the court on a 23-count charge bordering on fraud, money laundering and stealing.
They were arraigned before the court alongside some limited liability companies on June 29, for the alleged Offences.
The companies are: Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, McAllan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezitrs Bureau De Change ((BDC), Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited, and Solomon Health Care Limited.
The accused persons were alleged to have committed the offences between March 5, 2014, and May 4, 2015.
The offences according to the EFCC are contrary to sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge, and admitted to bail by the court.
In one of the counts, the accused persons were alleged to have converted the sum of N21,467,634,707.43 billion, property of the Nigerian Air Force to their personal use.
They were also alleged to have between May 5, 2014 and 4 May 4, 2015 in Lagos, indirectly converted the sum of N5, 291, 306, 950.28 Billion, property of the Nigerian Air Force which sum your reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing.
Amosu, Adgun and Olugbenga, were alleged to have between July 17, and September 16, 2014, used the British Pounds Sterling equivalent of sum of N663, 443,291 million, removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for yourselves two properties situated at 50-52 Tenterden Grove, London (NW41TH) and 93B Shirehall Park, London NW4 2QU, United Kingdom.
The EFCC further alleged that Amosu and his co-accused had between March 3, 2014 and March 12, 2015, used the sum of N202, 920, 200 million, which they removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, to purchase for yourselves a property situated at 1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja.
Air Marshal Amosu and the two Air Force Officers were also alleged to have between March 6 and April 30, 2015, use the sum of N428, 139, 539 million, which they jointly removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, to renovate and purchase medical equipment for their hospital, Solomon HealthCare Limited, located at 24, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja Lagos.
Air Marshal Amosu and Air Vice Marshal Adigun were also alleged to have between January 8, and April 13, 2015, used the sum of N1,701,400,570 billion, removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for themselves a property situated at Agobogba Street, Parkview, Ikoyi Lagos.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Idris has adjourned till tomorrow for continuation of trial.
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