‘N3bn fraud’: Oyo-Ita, allies diverted public funds to private companies, EFCC witness tells court

“We called for the account statements of these two
companies, upon analyzing them, we realized he (Umar) was paid several sums of
money from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing where he is an employee,”
Bello told the court.

“And upon interviewing the fourth defendant, he admitted
that he was also a contractor. He also admitted to have paid the first
defendant on several occasions from the proceeds of the transaction.”

He further disclosed that on April 27, 2019, a transfer of
N20, 227,1 42 was made in the name of one Ibrahim Madu to the Zenith Bank
account of Asanaya Projects Ltd.

He added that the mandate card of the account bears the
signature and photo of the seventh defendant, Effiok.

The witness also said the seventh defendant incorporated
Asanaya Projects Ltd in his name with the knowledge of the first defendant,
noting that approvals were granted while payments were made to the seventh defendant
either through his personal account or to the account of the company.

“The seventh defendant upon interview, confirmed he never
travelled for most of the funds he received and that the first defendant was
aware and benefitted on several occasions from the funds. The account of U and
U Global Services Limited was also opened by the seventh defendant,” he said.

 “In summary, from
2015 to 2018, U and U Global Limited received several payments in the form of
Duty Tour Allowances and estacodes.

“Sometimes, payments from the federal government were made
directly to the account, for instance, on March 24, 2016, he received
N40,313,453.58. This particular payment was from the federal government.”