Olabode Farinola, a compliance officer with the bank, is a principal witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of Mr. Roberts and his wife, Stella.
He told the court presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that the money was transferred to OnePlus Holdings LTD from the office of the NSA according to bank description.
Under cross-examination by counsel to Mr. Roberts, Chris Uche Mr. Farinola also admitted that the NSA never complained to Zenith Bank that the $40 million was wrongly transferred.
“I’m not aware of the purpose of the inflow or how it was disbursed but we didn’t receive any letter from the NSA that the money was wrongly transferred”, Mr. Farinola said.
Mr. Roberts and his wife are facing a seven-count charge brought against them by the EFCC.
They were accused of diverting $40 million meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for Nigeria’s Special Forces. The funds were allegedly transferred from the account of the Office of the NSA domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
During a previous cross examination, Ibrahim Mahe, another principal witness had told the court that only the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki, could explain why OnePlus Holdings Limited got a $40 million pipeline security contract.
Mr. Mahe, who recently retired as Permanent Secretary, Special Services Operations (SSO) in the NSA’s office, told the court that he paid Oneplus $40 million out of the $600 million special security fund sourced from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He however failed to tell the court the names of the companies that benefited from the remaining $560 million of the special security fund.
Mr. Farinola, while being led in evidence by Sylvanus Tahir, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that $39, 999, 985 was received by the accused persons on September 10, 2014.
The counsel, Mr. Tahir, informed the court that more witnesses would be presented at the next hearing as some of them are not currently in the country.
The case was adjourned by Justice Dimgba to November 18 for continuation of trial and cross examination. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Story story story! Very clueless people. Na only story una Sabi. Very incompetent and useless government trying to cover the gross incompetence and cluelessness. Na chanji be that!
ReplyDeleteSai Baba!
Sai Tinubu!
Isiakachukwu, there you go again. U will never see the truth even when it's standing naked right before your eyes. When are u gonna put up your real name?
DeleteStill, blind and sentimental,brainless PDP supporters and enemies of progress of Nigeria who are motivated by enthnicity are always crying witch-hunting and political intimidation. Fayose is the number one person who fits this bill. While it is understandable for him to defend his cohorts in the past administration having been a beneficiary of their murky corrupt activities, it baffles me when average Nigerians who have to sweat for their livelihoods jump on the bandwagon of critisizing president Buhari for probing these thieves and making sure they return their loots. Just bcos someone hail from your ethnic group or being a member of a party you support doesn't have to cloud your judgement to just defend them no matter how glaringly corrupt they are. You know who you are, you come here on Nigerianeye to submit your stupid and biased comments. Let your conscience strike u.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that people can still defend these thieves when enough evidences clearly stated how they robbed the country blind.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I believe every allegations EFCC found in anybody they catch. Olisah Metuh, Raymond Dokpesi and the likes prove stubborn but later admit after showing them 100% Evidence.
ReplyDeleteBunch of Thieves!!!