An operative of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ijeoma Matilda on Wednesday narrated to a
Federal High Court in Abuja how N2 billion was allegedly siphoned from the
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) under the guise of duty tour allowance.
The operative made the revelation
while testifying for EFCC in the trial of Emmanuella Eteta Ita, Head of
Stakeholders Unit of the FIRS and Surestart School Limited before Justice
Folasade Giwa Ogunbanjo.
She told the court that sometime
in November 2015, EFCC received an intelligence report alleging that the former
Coordinating Director of the FIRS, Mr Peter Hena conspired with the first
defendant using the staff of the unit to siphon money from the FIRS through
Duty Tour Allowances, DTA, to the tune of over N2bn.
Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer,
Mr Ekele Iheanacho, Matilda who is the fourth witness in the trial explained in
detail how the anti-graft agency waded into the matter and found a mouth
boggling alleged fraud.
“We went ahead to investigate the
first defendant, (Emmanuella Eteta Ita), she denied receiving any money from
Peter Hena.
“She however admitted that Peter
Hena gave her a bag to give to the then EFCC chairman, Mr. Tunde Fowler, the
contents of which she said she did not know.
“We further investigated the
first defendant’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) salary account, where we
discovered various payments from FIRS, for various reasons. We also found out
that between 2015 and 2017, she had received a total sum of N277.5m.
“She received another N173,
346,219.50 for DTA and entertainment expenses.
“From the above sum, we
discovered that she transferred N145.8m between 2015 and 2017, to the account
of the second defendant (Surestart School Limited).”
The witness further disclosed
that the first defendant could only account for N32. 4m during reconciliation
of her account.
“We also verified some of the
receipts, belonging to Lomein Express Ltd and discovered that 26 of the
documents amounting to N76.4m were forged as confirmed by the owner of the
company.”
Also testifying, the 5th
prosecution witness, Mr. Ibom Uche, a Director of Accounts with the FIRS told
the court that sometimes in October 2020, the EFCC sent a letter addressed to
the Executive Chairman of FIRS, which was minuted to him to certify some documents,
which he carried out.
He narrated to the court the
procedure for funds approval, processing, and disbursement from his office.
Under cross-examination by
Benjamin Ogbayi, counsel to the first defendant and Andrew Hassien, counsel to
the second defendant, the witness pointed out that he only worked based on the
instructions.
Justice Ogunbajo has however
adjourned further hearing to November 26, 2021.
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