How former Chief of Naval staff bought N600mn property by Proxy – EFCC

Shehu Mohammed, a senior detective superintendent with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had informed Justice Umar of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, how former Chief of Naval staff, Jibrin Usman bought a N600million property through a private company.

The Prosecuting Witness 1 in the ongoing trial of the former naval chief, charged with responsibility of investigating cases related to economic and financial crimes, team leader of the  extractive industries fraud session told the court how he met the former naval chief in 2014, when EFCC got suspicious of some sums of money in an account.

The PW1 while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel J. Uzo, Mohammed told the court that commencement of investigations, led the team to the Diamond Bank account of Petrus Ogwu Nigeria Limited.

According to him, investigations led to the arrest of some officials of the Diamond Bank, as well as operators of the said account, subsequent response revealed a deposit of N600million, transfered on March 13, 2014, by Naval Engineering Services limited, into the account of Petrus Ogueuie.

It was later revealed that the second and third defendants (Bala Mshelia and Shehu Ahmadu), instructed the transfer.

Further investigation also revealed that operators of Petrus Ogueuie account through its signatory, Peter Ogueuie recieved the sum of N600million, for the sale of a property at No 7, Colorado close, maitama, Abuja.

EFCC went investigating who Harbour bay international limited was by way of an investigation letter, written to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), on the incorporation of the company, with a response indicating that the company was duly registered to the wife of the former naval chief, Lami Jibrin, as a director in the company.

Investigation was also extended to the Naval Engineering Service to release the 2nd and 3rd defendants for interview, being signatories to the Naval Engineering Service account, domiciled with Diamond Bank.

The investigation team was said to have been informed that the payment was made based on directives received from the then chief of naval staff, Usman Jibrin to transfer the said sum for the purchase of the property on No 7, Colorado road maitama, Abuja.

The directors of Harbour Bay were invited, but they denied knowledge of the transaction  but however, said the property was bought

“We asked the Nigerian Navy to furnish us with its budget, the response was duly analysed and there was no where we saw provision for the purchase of the property the Chief of Naval staff in 2013 and 2014 budget of the Nigerian Navy.

“We invited the management of Naval engineering limited and the MD had an interview with us having reported to us, and he said he is not aware of any property at No 7. Colorado close, Maitama, Abuja belonging to the Naval engineering service limited”, the PW1 said.

Letters were written to Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS), as regards the request of the company to purchase a property from one Anthony.

Petrus Ogwu represented by Peter Ogueuie showed that the property was sold to Harbour bay and the deed of assignment, power of attorney and sales agreement were signed between Petrus Ogwu Nigeria Limited and Harbour bay, copies of which were sub!fitted to the EFCC.

The documents were tendered before the court and admitted as Exhibits 1a-c.

While the prosecution sought to tender correspondence between the investigating team and Diamond bank, Y. C. Maikyau SAN, counsel to Jibrin objected to its admissibility on the grounds that some of the attached documents were not duly certified by the necessary authorities.

The trial judge, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to November 26, 2016 for ruling on the admissibility of documents and continuation of trial.

The former naval chief on a four count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy alongside Bala Mshelia and Shehu Ahmadu for allegedly buying a house worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract being captured in the budget.