A witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, Musa Omale, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) paid N12 million into a bank account owned by the judge.<\/p>\n
Omale, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, made the assertion while giving testimony in the ongoing trial of the judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before an Ikeja High Court.<\/p>\n
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd.<\/p>\n
Omale, who is the fifth witness for the anti-graft agency, said that the account was run by the judge.<\/p>\n
He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1million each into my bank account.<\/p>\n
\u201cTahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account,\u201d Musa said.<\/p>\n
The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me \u2018when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing?<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction,\u201d Musa said.<\/p>\n
However, while being cross \u2013 examined by the lead defence counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Robert Clarke (SAN), Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred.<\/p>\n
Clarke said, \u201cIn the face of the statement of account that you\u2019re holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou work with the NCS which is a para \u2013 military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything?\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Responding to Clarke\u2019s questions, Musa said \u201cThe statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and I\u2019m not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recall that that on March 17, a fourth prosecution witness, Mr Uchenna Okaranwolu, a former banker, had revealed to the court that the Delta State Government had paid N15 million into the judge\u2019s Access bank account.<\/p>\n
Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Mr Godwin Obla, SAN, a former prosecutor of the EFCC.<\/p>\n
The duo are jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.<\/p>\n
Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.<\/p>\n
Both denied all the charges.<\/p>\n
Another prosecution witness, Robertson Emafidon, revealed during proceedings details of the N5 million which was transferred from Obla\u2019s United Bank of Africa (UBA) bank into the judge\u2019s account.<\/p>\n
Emafidon, the Head of Regulatory Liason at the Head Office of the UBA, said \u201cSometime in November 2016, we received a letter from the EFCC asking us to avail them of the account opening documents and statement of account regarding the subject customer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made copies of the documents, certified them as true copied, signed and forwarded them as a letter back to the EFCC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a debit of N5million on May 21, 2015 from the account of Obla and Co into the bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn May 18, 2015 there was a credit of N16.5million from the account of D.S.J Integrated Services into the bank account of Obla and Co.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, while being cross \u2013 examined by Clarke and Chief Ferdinard Orbih (SAN), defence counsel to Obla, Emafidon denied any knowledge of the purpose of the bank transfers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know the purpose of the transfers, I was not personally involved in any of these transactions and I was not in any of the branches where the transactions occurred,\u201d Emafidon said.<\/p>\n
After the witnesses had given their evidence, Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, made an oral application to the court seeking for some witness summons to compel additional witnesses to testify for the EFCC in the trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Lord, I want to apply for witness summons to be issued on Mr Charles Musa, a proposed eleventh witness on the proof of evidence, Mr Frank Ezenwe and Mr Danladi Haliyu the fifth and sixth witnesses in the additional list of witnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will also request for a subpoena to the Registrar of Titles of the Bureau of Lands, Lagos, to produce a deed of assignment,\u201dOyedepo said.<\/p>\n
Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for continuation of trial. <\/p>\n
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