ABUJA, Nigeria — The 14th prosecution witness, Aliyu Muhammed Abdulmukadaddas, in the ongoing trial of a former aide to ex-Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Abiodun Agbele, has dropped a bombshell in the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Abdulmukadaddas revealed to Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 that the controversial amount of N1,219,000,000.00 which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) transferred from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki was meant to address security matters in Ekiti State and not to finance elections, as claimed.
Under the direction of Wahab Shittu, the prosecution attorney, the former CBN employee who posted the funds attested to his acquaintance with the Diamond Bank account (0026223114) belonging to Sylvan McNamara Nigeria Limited, the company at the core of the dispute.
“We have paid N200 million to the company through a Diamond Bank account. We have paid N200 billion, N700 million, N100 billion, N255 million to 0026223114 Diamond Bank account, among other payments,” Abdulmukadaddas stated emphatically.
Under cross-examination by the defense counsel, Olalekan Ojo, the witness elaborated on the CBN’s rigorous verification process before making any lodgment.
“All the payment has to be verified, and the verification is on the receiving account, and we must verify if it is okay before posting, and in this case, it was okay, that was why we posted,” he clarified.
Agbele is currently facing trial on 24 amended charges related to money laundering involving the sum of N1.219 billion, which was traced to the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara Ltd.
Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had previously testified that the Sylvan McNamara Ltd Diamond Bank account was created to tackle the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos. However, funds deposited into the account were allegedly diverted for electoral purposes by Fayose, with Agbele’s involvement.
During earlier proceedings, former Zenith Bank CEO Peter Amangbo attested, under cross-examination, that the airlifting of the N1.219 billion from Lagos Airport to Akure Airport and to Zenith Bank Akure was executed based on the instructions of the bank’s management.
The trial is set to continue on May 2 and 3, 2024, as Justice Dimgba oversees this high-profile case that sheds light on the alleged diversion of funds meant for Ekiti State’s security into election financing.
