Their trial is connected to the alleged misappropriation of
arms funds by Dasuki while he was NSA from 2012 to 2015.
On Wednesday, EFCC presented Abdullahi as the second witness
in the trial-within-trial of the former Sokoto governor.
During the court proceedings, the EFCC witness said N4.633
billion was traced to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited, where
Bafarawa’s sons were directors.
The witness added that Sagir was the sole signatory to the
company’s bank account.
The EFCC witness told the court that he was the
second-in-command of special task force, fraud investigation on arms, defence
equipment procurement in the office of NSA in 2015.
He said the team investigated the activities of 78 companies
that received money from the office of the NSA without justification, adding
that Dalhatu Investment Limited was among the companies.
Abdullahi said Sagir was interviewed on November 25, 2015 by
the investigation team and that he made his statement voluntarily.
“My Lord, I witnessed
the statement dated 25/11/2015 of Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa. He was interviewed
in my presence, the statement was also recorded in my presence,” the witness
said.
“At the conclusion of the written statement, I read it to
him. Thereafter, I endorsed the written statement. I equally endorsed the
second statement at 4pm and it was concluded by 4:25pm, the same day. I
witnessed it, my name and signature were there.
“My Lord, there was nothing like promises made to the
accused, threat or inducement. To the best of my knowledge, there was nothing
like that.
“It was a very conducive environment and that was the
secretariat of the special task force at the head office then.
“The secretariat is
the conference room of the chairman, and no member of the special task force is
authorized to make any promise in the course of investigation.
“When Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa honored our invitation, he came
with his lawyer and he was confronted with the evidence that we have.
“Afterwards, he said he needed to consult his lawyer and
later volunteered his written statement. These statements were based on the
fact of the evidence we have on the company.”
After the witness’ testimony, Halilu adjourned the case to
May 22, 2024.
Bafarawa served as the governor of Sokoto from 1999 to 2007.
