Ndudi Anyim
A witness in the trial of Veronica Oyegbula, accused of embezzling N24 billion pension fraud, has told the FCT High Court in Maitama Abuja, how she bought a house for N54.9 million in her daughter’s name.
Oyegbula who is being tried alongside a former Director of Police Pension Office, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, and four others appeared before Justice Hussien Baba Yusuf on Wednesday, as the prosecution witness, Mustapha Sani Gadanya (a former staff of the Commission) continued his examination-in-chief.
Security Watch Africa reports that the accuse persons are being tried following investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness provided further insight into suspicious cash flows into the account of the third defendant, Oyegbula and how she bought a property in the name of her daughter who was a student at the time.
Gadanya told the court that following the review of one of the accounts, Ulova International Resources Ltd, marked as Exhibit P42a, which is a United States Dollar account, it was discovered that the account had a turnover of $700,000. Between September 14, 2007 and August 21, 2008, “ We discovered that one Danlami Audi deposited a total sum of $231,000 and one Chinyere deposited $188,900 into the same account, totaling $419,000 within one year.
“ Out of this deposit, the third defendant made a withdrawal of $150,000. She withdrew $100.000 in the name of one Philip, and the sum of $20,000, $20,000 and $10,000 at in her name.
The witness noted that a balance of $534,816.84 was left in the account at the time it was forfeited to the Federal Government on interim basis.
“ During interview with the investigators, Onyegbula stated that she made the $534,816.84 from sale of pure water, ” he stated.
Addressing the Court on the account opening package marked Exhibit P41, the witness said the investigative team discovered that the 3rd defendant, Oyegbula, was the sole signatory to the account, Ulova International Resources Ltd, as the Managing Director with address stated as Plot 140, 142 Ehimiri Housing Estate Umuahia, Abia State.
“ The application for the account to be opened was made by the third defendant; the company itself was registered on November 17, 2004 while she was still a serving officer at the Police Pension Office, ” he added.
Gandaya further told the court that the third defendant was listed as a director of the company (Ulova International Resources Ltd) with 400,000 units of shares while her daughter, Amanda Onyegbula has 100,000 units, Regina Okeiyi, her mother has 100,000 units and Charles Maduka, 400,000 units.
The witness disclosed that following the execution of a search warrant in the house of the third defendant at No. 3 Andora Street, Sun City Estate Abuja, it was discovered that the property was constructed and sold by a company named Adkan Services Limited.
“ We sent a letter to the company, demanding for documents relating to the property and evidence of payment to ascertain how the property was purchased, which they responded to. Following the review of the documents, we discovered that on February 23 2009, Adkan offered the property, a four-bedroom duplex for N61,050,000 to Onyegbula in the name of her daughter.
“ The offer letter was generated in the name of Amarachi Amanda, the 3rd defendant’s daughter and three managers’ cheques for the sum of N20,000,000; N20,000,000 and N10,000,000 were issued to the company Adkan to that effect, ” the witness said.
He however called the Court’s attention to the fact that Amarachi was cited in the document as a businesswoman, whereas investigations revealed that she was still schooling at the time.
“ We also discovered that Amarachi’s signature was inconsistent with the one in the statement form she signed at the EFCC and application form. Only her initial were used as the signature (A.O.A). Also on February 25, 2007, an allocation letter was made in the name of her daughter, bearing N54,945.000, which is the amount the property was sold. The purchase agreement was signed by Danlami Audi as witness.
“ Because of the discovery, we went to Wema bank to ascertain the account from where payments for the property was made. We discovered that Ulova International Resources Ltd was the account that made the payment; they have about 5 accounts with Wema bank.
We also came across some managers’ cheques with no details of beneficiaries, we now wrote back to the bank to furnish us with the original instructions which they did, ” Gandaya said.
Security Watch Africa reports that prosecuting counsel, Jacobs attempted to tender the documents in evidence but counsel to the third defendant, Ise Ikeji objected.
He argued that the documents do not satisfy the requirements of Section 84 of the Evidence Act; that the witness cannot give direct oral evidence of the workings of Wema Bank since he was not a staff of the bank and that the documents are computer generated.
Jacobs however urged the court to accept the documents in evidence, stating that the reply letters were signed by the bank and recovered in the course of investigation by the witness. That the documents satisfied the requirements of the law as there is a certificate finished by the Bank for the statement of accounts.
Justice Baba-Yusuf adjourned till May 26 and 28, 2021 for ruling and continuation of the trial