Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar moved $30 million,
about N13.5 billion into Nigeria in 2019 to prosecute his failed bid to unseat
President Buhari in the election.
Revelation about part of the politician’s war chest came to
light today in Lagos at the ongoing money laundering trial of Uyiekpen
Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to Atiku.
Giwa Osagie, along with his brother, Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, is
charged with making in February 2019 cash payment of $2million, about N900m to
Atiku’s security guard without going through a financial institution.
Giwa-Osagie, EFCC contended, acted on the instruction of
Atiku and breached the money laundering law
Shuaibu Shehu, an EFCC investigator said the money was part
of the $30million paid into Guensey Trust Nigeria Limited by Intels West
Africa, affiliated with Atiku.
Guensey Trust is controlled by Giwa Osagie.
At today’s sitting, Shehu, who was led in evidence by the
prosecution counsel, Kufre Uduak, told the court that the Commission, sometime
in 2019, received intelligence that some politicians were moving around with US
Dollars to influence the result of the last general elections.
“It was also revealed that the sum of $1.6m (One Million,
Six Hundred US Dollars) was given to one Alhaji Lawan Abdullahi, a Bureau De
Change Operator (BDC).
“Based on this intelligence, my team conducted
investigations and recovered the sum of $1.459m and N50m in cash.
“It was also discovered that the money came from a company
called Guensey Trust Nigeria Limited controlled by the first defendant in trust
for Atiku Abubakar.”
Shehu said Guensey Trust received into its own account the
sum of €26m (Twenty-Six Million Euros) from a foreign company, Intel West
Africa.
“The money was then converted into Dollars, which was $30m.
“Guensey Trust transferred the sum of $5m (Five Million
Dollars) into Andrew Pitchford, a company owned by the 2nd defendant, that is
Giwa Osagie’s brother and was converted into Naira through a BDC Company.
“The 2nd defendant was also instructed by the 1st defendant
to raise the sum of $2m for someone, whom we later found out to be a security
guard to Atiku Abubakar.
“Our findings revealed that the first defendant received the
instruction from the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to hand over the
money to the said person.”
Shehu who is second prosecution witness, PW2, will continue
his testimony on 13 January, 2021.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting
in Ikoyi, Lagos adjourned till then for continuation of trial.
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