By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness on Thursday told Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Nigeria how he in 2015 delivered 12 padlocked bags containing $70 million to an Abuja-based banker on the instructions of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The witness, a former group general manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) appeared before the court as first prosecution witness in the trial of a former Executive Director, First Bank Plc, Dauda Lawal, who is standing trial for alleged money laundering offence.
He was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering.
The EFCC accused Lawal of handling $25 million out of a total of $153 million, which Diezani allegedly dished out to influence the 2015 general elections.
When the matter was called, Rotimi Oyedepo announced appearance for prosecution, while Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) announced appearance for defence.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the court how he delivered the cash-loaded bags to one Charles, an Abuja-based banker, in front of Dume Supermarket in Abuja.
The witness said, “My lord, as I can remember, shortly before the 2015 elections, it was the norm for heads of subsidiaries of the NNPC to be invited for undisclosed briefing of activities of their departments to the minister. At the end of such briefings, the then Honourable Mninster of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave me a GSM number in respect of one Charles, whom I had never met, with a clear instruction that I should convey 12 padlocked bags to the said Charles.
“My Lord, the source, the content and the purpose of the bags were not disclosed to me. Thereafter, I called the said Charles, who equally confirmed to me that he had been briefed about the message. I delivered the bags to Charles.
“Much later, My Lord, the EFCC invited me for interrogation on the issue and I made a statement to that effect. Charles equally confirmed at the EFCC that he received the 12 padlocked bags and the bags contained the sum of $70 million.”
When asked by the prosecutor to describe the kind of relationship he and others had with Diezani, the witness said, “We had a command-and-obey relationship and also took an oath of office to obey directives and authority.”
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), the witness said he had never met Lawal before.
Justice Hassan adjourned till 21, 22 and 23 of July for continuation of trial.
Dauda Lawal was arraigned before the court by the EFCC on four counts charge bordering on money laundering offence.
One of the counts states: “That you Dauda Lawal, Ben Otti (at large), and Diezani Alison Madueke (now at large), sometimes in 2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court aided the use of about the sum of about $25 million for the acquisition of property known as Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel located at Tombia street, GRA Phase two Port Harcourt which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust perpetrated by Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke whilst serving as the honourable minister of petroleum resources, and Ben Otti who was then the Group Executive director, Finance and Account, NNPC and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2)(d) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Sections 15 (3) of the same Act.
Dauda Lawal had pleaded not guilty to all the counts.