TheCable

Ibrahim Mahe, a prosecution witness, on Tuesday said that Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), authorised the payment of $40m to the company of Roberts Azibaola, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin.

Roberts and his wife, Stella, are standing trial on a seven-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the federal high court, Abuja.

While being led in evidence by Sylvanus Tahir, counsel to the EFCC, Mahe, a retired permanent secretary, special services at the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, told the court that he did not know the first and second defendants (Robert and Stella), but got to know the third defendant, One Plus company, through a transaction.

Narrating how he got to know the company, Mahe stated said: “On August 20, 2014, the national security adviser endorsed a memo to me, which originated from the office of the director of finance and administration of the ONSA, detailing the bank details of one company called ‘One Plus’ and the purpose for which the company was to be paid a sum of $40m.

“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and I prepared the payment mandate for the $40m in favour of ‘One Plus’ for the signature of the NSA. I sent it to the NSA, he signed and sent it to back to me and subsequent action was for me to counter-sign the mandate and then send it to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payment.”

The witness had earlier told the court that his responsibilities involved matters that had to do with the office of the NSA. He said that the special services office responsibilities,  in relation with the office of the NSA, have to do with matters relating to finances of the entire “intelligence community”, which included the department of state services, national intelligence agency and ONSA.

According to him, permanent secretary, special security office, was responsible for coordination of the annual budget of the members of the intelligence community.

“After formulating the budget, the accountant-general releases the funds of the ‘intelligence community’ through an account that is domiciled with the special security office, from where it is distributed to the various end users,” Mahe said.

He told the court that his office served as a warehouse for funds of the intelligence community and went further to explain how funds were utilised.

“When funds get into the account, the NSA is informed of the arrival of the funds and proposal on the distribution to the various agencies is made to him. When he approves, the monies are sent to the end users,” he said.

The case has been adjourned to July 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.