EFCC Witness has told court how ONSA Funds were allegedly looted through firms linked to Ex-NNPC Official.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that a prosecution witness on Tuesday detailed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court how funds allegedly originating from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) were funneled through several companies linked to Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former senior official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Testifying before Justice Charles Agbaza, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detective Michael Adarikun said that on April 17, 2015, the ONSA, under former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, transferred N600 million to Acacia Holdings. He told the court that EFCC investigations showed Acacia’s UBA account held a balance of just N27,094 before the inflow.
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According to Adarikun, the money was subsequently disbursed to various companies and individuals. He said that on April 23, 2015, Acacia Holdings paid N60 million to Hidayatul Atfaal Islamic Academy on Baba-Kusa’s instructions as part payment for a 3.62-hectare parcel of land in the Kiyami district of Abuja, valued at N120 million.
The witness further told the court that Zabati BDC Limited received N25 million in three instalments on behalf of Hospitality Property Nigeria, with one Ibrahim Saleh later paying the remaining N15 million. He added that on April 24, 2015, another N124 million was transferred from Acacia Holdings without a stated purpose.
Adarikun testified that on April 27, N8.7 million was paid to Saleh for “beacon processing” on lands allegedly acquired by Baba-Kusa in Kwali, Wasa district and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory. On the same day, Squad Developers Nigeria Limited allegedly received N50 million in five tranches for 118.132 hectares of land at Stadium Layout, Kwali, while Saleh contributed an additional N25 million.
He also told the court that on April 30, over N33 million was transferred to O.A. Akinrinmade, while Pasman Investment Limited received more than N55 million in six transactions. Adarikun said Farouk Suleiman, identified as Pasman’s owner, told investigators that the funds represented the naira equivalent of $630,000, remitted on Baba-Kusa’s instructions.
The EFCC detective further stated that on May 15, 2015, more than N23 million was sent to Namuduka Ventures for conversion into foreign currency. He said Acacia Holdings, Medical Plastic Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital jointly transferred over N56 million to Namuduka Ventures, which was converted to 233,944 units and paid into Baba-Kusa’s Furnishing Touches account in the United Kingdom.
According to the witness, on May 13, an additional N23 million was converted to €65,075 and transferred to the same UK account, while N2.22 million from Reliance Referral Hospital was exchanged for €1,500 and paid into Baba-Kusa’s Business Free Empty account, also in the UK.
Adarikun added that Baba-Kusa authorised a further payment of $200,000 to Blue-Lake Management Consultancy Limited. He also said Medical Plastic Limited, a company allegedly majority-owned by Baba-Kusa’s wife, Hauwa, received N70 million on May 4, 2015, and N80 million two days later.
The EFCC is prosecuting Dasuki, Baba-Kusa, Acacia Holdings and Reliance Referral Hospital on a 32-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of N33.2 billion meant for arms procurement.
Justice Agbaza adjourned the case to January 14 for continuation of trial.
