The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today, told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that it will be calling two additional witnesses in the trial of former managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdusalami and six others.
The EFCC through its lawyer, Nnemeka Onmena, gave the hint, after the court presided over by Justice Babs Kuewumi, had discharged the agency’s second witness, Teslim Ajuwon, a Compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.
The former NAMA boss, Abdulsalami and others are being tried before the court by the EFCC over alleged N6. 850, 447, 609. 90 billion fraud.
Others standing trial alongside Abdulsalami are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Adegorite’s wife, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, who is the Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited; Clara Aliche, and two Limited Liability companies Randville investment limited, Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, allegedly used as conduit pipe to defraud the agency.
Others accused persons are: Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun. The accused persons are facing a 24 count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy, fraud, forgery and unlawful conversion of funds. At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the second prosecution witness, Mr. Ajuwon, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Nnemeka tendered exhibit B2, which are account opening package and statement of account belonging to one Felicia Nnenna Abubakar.
Ajuwon, a Compliant Officer with Zenith Bank Plc, also tendered exhibit B3, which contained account opening package and statement of account of other accused persons in the charge except that the former NAMA managing director. Ajuwon however, stated that the first accused, Abdulsalami is not part of the inflows to the accounts tendered.
He also told the court he did not tender account opening package and account statement of the second and third accused persons. Upon conclusion of his evidence, the prosecutor, Nnemeka, asked the court for an adjournment to enable them bring in two additional witnesses.
Upon the prosecutor’s application, Justice Kuewumi adjourned the matter till December 12, for continuation of trial. In one of the 24 count criminal charges marked FHC/ L/ 145C/2016, all the accused persons and one Nnamdi Udoh still at large, were alleged to have between January 31, 2013 and September 3, 2015, with intent to defraud and by false pretence conspired together to induced the Agency to deliver the sum of N2, 847, 523, 975 billion, to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the Agency.
They were also alleged to have converted various sums of money amounting to N4, 003, 532, 608.90 belonging to the Agency, to their personal use. The EFCC also alleged in the charge that the defendants on December 19, 2014, forged a document titled” Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Apapa 2-Burma road NCS Payment Acknowledgement receipt number: 05821082014177651″
Pix: Ibrahim Abdusalami, former NAMA MD
