former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim
The
trial of a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, for money
laundering charges, commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja, with
the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, calling
its first witness on Tuesday.
Ohakim, who was Imo State governor
between 2007 and 2011, is facing three counts of money laundering
charges arising from his alleged purchase of a house in Asokoro District
of Abuja with cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270m, in November
2008.
The first prosecution witness, Mr. Dauda
Ishaya, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, appeared
before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Tuesday, giving his report of
investigation on the charges against the former governor.
Dauda,
who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo,
accused Ohakim of initially lying to be a tenant in the property until
he was confronted with the statements of those who were involved in the
purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No. 1098,
Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja.
He said, “Intelligence report revealed
that there was no bank transfer on the purchase of that property – that
was against the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. We took the
accused person to the said property and we returned to the office. He
was questioned on the same property and he said he was just a tenant in
that property.
“He said he rented the house from a
company called Tweenex Consociates through the Managing Director of the
Company, called Abu Sule.”
The witness said Sule was invited by the
EFCC and also denied ownership of the property, but went on to narrate
“the real story of what transpired.”
Dauda said, “He (Sule) said that
actually, the accused person gave him cash to the tune of $2.2m which
was an equivalent of N270m as of that time. He said he bought the house
from Alhaji Isa Maidabino and that he (Abu Sule) received the money from
the accused person at the State House lodge in the night.
“He said the next day, he made cash
payment to Maidabino. He (Abu Sule) said they entered into an agreement
of tenancy so that it would appear that the accused person rented the
house from the company (Tweenex) and that the accused person gave him
Fidelity Bank cheques totalling N20m as rent for two years. He said he
used the N20m to renovate the said property.”
The witness said Ohakim failed to
disclose the property when asked to declare his assets to the commission
after he was invited for interrogation on intelligence gathering on the
transaction and “several petitions” received against him in 2010.
He said after denying ownership of the
property in his first statement to the commission, dated January 25,
2013, Ohakim later confessed to be the owner in successive statements in
which he revealed more facts about the purchase each time he was
confronted with fresh evidence.
“We invited the accused person to our
office again and showed him the revelation by Abu Sule, he then said he
now remembered how he bought the property,” the witness said.
He said the transaction involving cash payment of such an amount contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering Act
The five statements, dated January 25,
2013; January 31, 2013; June 18, 2015; June 2, 2015 and 29 June, 2015,
obtained from the former governor were tendered by the prosecution and
admitted by the court as exhibits on Tuesday.
The defence counsel, Mr. Goddy Uche, asked for an adjournment after the witness gave his evidence on Tuesday.
Justice Ademola acceded to his request and adjourned till November 12 and 13 for the defence to cross-examine the witness.
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