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| Dasuki, former NSA. |
Mr. Michael Adariku, a witness of the Econonic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, on Thursday told an Abuja High Court how N1.4
billion security vote from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)
was diverted.
An
officer of the EFCC, Adariku made this known when he testified in the trial of
Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck
Jonathan, is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion
of N13.6 billion since 2015.
On trial along with Dasuki were Shuaibu Salisu, a former
Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu
Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director, and two others.
Adariku,
the first prosecution witness said that the diversion was made through a
company owned by a former Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, Acacia Holdings LTD., which was credited with the sum
from the accounts of ONSA purportedly for a national prayer to be organised for
Nigeria.
The witness, led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs
(SAN), narrated how N650 million was transferred from ONSA’s Zenith Bank
account to Acacia Holdings account with Ecobank for the purpose of the said
prayer, saying that from the response of Ecobank, N650 million was transferred
to various individuals and companies contrary to the purpose it was disbursed
for.
Adariku further revealed that on April 20, 2015, N150 million
was transferred to the account of Baba-Kusa, and that on April 22, another N70
million was transferred to one Jubril Abdullahi for purposes not stated. He
said that on April 22, an account transfer of N50 million was forwarded to the
account of Baba-Kusa between May 4 and May 6, 2015.
The witness said that another transfer of N150 million was made
to a company, Medical Plastics Ltd. found to be owned by Baba-Kusa and his
wife, Hauwa, who own 1.8 million shares in the company.
The
witness further revealed how N200 million was transferred from ONSA’s account
with Zenith bank to Acacia Holdings Ltd. account with the United Bank for
Africa on Oct. 9, 2014.
He added
that another N600 million was transferred from ONSA’s account to Acacia on
April 17, 2015.
While in
the process of giving vivid account of how the sums were transferred to various
individuals and companies, counsel to Acacia Holdings, Dr Biodun Layonu (SAN)
raised an objection.
Layonu
objected to the witness’ testimony on the ground that the documents relating to
the transactions were not clear in the copies that the prosecution served them,
claiming that most of the figures being quoted by the witness had been blanked
out in the document in his possession.
The judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, acknowledged the
observation by the defence counsel for Acacia and directed that the prosecution
should make clearer copies available to the defendants before the next
adjourned date and adjourned the trial until Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 for
continuation of trial.
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