Hassan Seidu, an investigative operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja Federal High Court, how the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki awarded contracts to the tune on N5.6billion to secure 22 Dams.
The Prosecuting witness in the matter brought against Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to Dasuki told the court how his team of investigators, conducted a search on his residence based on search warrant it got from a magistrate court on his Apo residence.
Ashinze is standing trial alongside Wolfgang Reinl, an Austrian and Security Consultant, Sagir Mohammed, a retired military intelligent officer, Edidiong Idiong, a legal practitioner and Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.
Seidu while being led in evidence by Ofem Uket, the prosecuting counsel, informed the court that the investigating team recovered one black diary, one blue London personal notebook and a one paged document written in red ink which were tendered before the court and admitted as exhibits 2a, b, c.
He informed that the one paged document contained a list of five companies, their bank account numbers, the bank they operate and various sums of money that were transferred to them at separate times in April 2014.
While recounting the investigation into the allegations of N1.5billion money laundering charge against the defendants, Seidu told the trial court, that the EFCC had requested for, and got the bank statement of Geonel Integrated Services Limited with Heritage Bank, which indicated that the sum of N3.12billion was trandfered to it, from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on April 11, 2014.
“The amount of money in millions that was written in favour of each of the companies, were transferred from Geonel Enterprise Bank account. For instance, N120million transferred to Unity Continental on April 22, 2014, N550million in favour of Global Integrated with Zenith Bank same date, N500million transfer to Helpline organisation, N100million was also transferred to Vibrant resources.
“Sologic Integrated limited had N120million transferred to it on April 23, 2014, Law Partners also received another payment which was not in Exhibit 2c, to the tune of N450million on May 5, 2014.
“Exhibit 2c was prepared, three days after the N3, 125, 000, 000 was given value in the account of Geonel, we also found out that the sum of N2, 500, 000, 000 was transferred from the CBN to Geonel account in Heritage bank on February 16, 2015.
“The N3.125billion was meant for a purpoted contract given to Geonel as a mobilization fee in securing about 22 dams in Nigeria. N2.5billion was transferred from the CBN as a full and balance payment for the purpoted contract for securing the dams. The contract was awarded from ONSA to Geonel.
He further disclosed to the court that, all the companies were owned by relatives and cronies of the former NSA, Dasuki.
“Unity Continental Nigeria Limited is owned by Sagir Mohammed, cousin to Dasuki, Law partner and associate belongs to Edidiong Idiong who is a friend and business associate of Dasuki. Helpline organisation belongs to Bello Fadile, who was second in command to Dasuki; Vibrant resources belonged to Abubakar Dasuki, junior brother to Dasuki.
“Sologic integrated service limited belonged to Ibiyemi Bello, who is the son of Bello Fadile, Dasuki’s second in command”.
The witness further told the trial court how the statement of the first accused person (Ashinze) was taken and recorded, to which he reacted to the items recovered from his residence.
The trial judge, Justice Kolawole, having heard arguments from the parties in the matter, over admissibility of the statement, adjourned ruling on its admissibility and continuation of trial to March 21, 2017.
The defendants are standing trial on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N1.5billion.
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