DASUKIGATE: N1.4 billion used for Special prayers for the Nation - witness says
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Michael
Adariku, on Thursday told an Abuja High Court how N1.4 billion security
vote from the office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, was
diverted.
Mr. Adariku, an officer of EFCC, made this known when he testified in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Dasuki is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion since 2015.
On trial along with Mr. 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.
Mr. 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.
The company, Acacia Holdings LTD., 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, 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.
He, however, said that from the response of Ecobank, N650 million was transferred to various individuals and companies contrary to the purpose it was disbursed for.
Mr. 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 to account transfer of N50
million was forwarded to the account of Mr. 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, the counsel to Acacia Holdings, Biodun Layonu (SAN) raised an objection.
Mr. 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.
He said 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.
He then adjourned the trial until December 13 and 14 for continuation of trial.
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Mr. Adariku, an officer of EFCC, made this known when he testified in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Dasuki is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion since 2015.
On trial along with Mr. 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.
Mr. 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.
The company, Acacia Holdings LTD., 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, 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.
He, however, said that from the response of Ecobank, N650 million was transferred to various individuals and companies contrary to the purpose it was disbursed for.
Mr. 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.
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, the counsel to Acacia Holdings, Biodun Layonu (SAN) raised an objection.
Mr. 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.
He said 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.
He then adjourned the trial until December 13 and 14 for continuation of trial.
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Women Leader has
drummed support for the devolution of power in the country.
According to the women leader, it will enhance the delivery of essential
services to Nigerians.
She stated this at a public hearing organised by APC Committee on True
Federalism on Thursday in Abuja.
Aliyu stressed the need for some of the items on the exclusive list to
be transferred to the concurrent list.
This, she said was critical to fast-track the country´s development,
adding that Nigerians had a lot to benefit if the country was
restructured.
“As most of us will agree, there is the need for devolution of power
from the centre to the federating unit.
“A few items of the exclusive legislative list should be transferred to
the concurrent list to fast-track the development of the country and
enhance the delivery of essential services to the Nigerian people,´´ she
said.
She also said that it would not be out of place to transfer federal
roads and similar infrastructure to states for continued derivation
principle.
The women leader maintained that if all hands were on deck and the
country´s development became the priority of all, its challenges would
be surmounted in “harmony rather than acrimony’’.
Speaking on ideal federating units, whether to adopt or not, or if there
should be a merger or creation of more states, Aliyu said that the
present statuesque should be maintained.
She also said that a return to the regional government format was not
visible, as it would among other things fan the embers of suspicion of
oppression by the minority.
According to her, many states of the federation as presently constituted
are not economically viable and may not be able to pay workers salaries
without allocation from federation accounts.
The women leader also said that there was the need for the Federal
Government to revisit the country´s present land tenure system to ensure
easy access to land.
She decried the practice in most communities in the country where people
were discriminated against because there were not indigenes, saying
that such practice should be of concern to the government.
“What is clear to us is that the present land tenure system needs to be
revisited to make access to land for agriculture and development easy
for the average Nigerian.
“What should matter in our nation today is where you reside and pay your
taxes and not your state of origin.
“This will enable every Nigerian, irrespective of where you are from or
live to enjoy the full rights and benefits guaranteed under our laws,’’
the APC women leader said.
She, however, said that the country´s unity in diversity provided its
citizens with limitless opportunities and urged women as mothers to
“keep talking and encouraging our sons and husbands that the unity of
Nigeria is not negotiable.’’
The orgnaisations which submitted memorandum to the committee were
given opportunity to make presentations at the event.
The APC Committee on True Federalism was constituted on Sept. 14, by its
National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to articulate the party’s
position on restructuring Nigeria.
The committee which is headed by Gov. Nasir el-Rufia of Kaduna State,
had earlier embarked on a tour of the country´s geo-political zones to
get the people´s positions on the issue.
The committee´s mandate was to look into issues of states and state
creation, devolution of power, federating units, fiscal federalism and
revenue allocation among others
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/apc-women-leader-backs-devolution-power/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/apc-women-leader-backs-devolution-power/
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