A prosecution witness in the on-going trial of the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam and six others, Babatunde Adenekan, on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how the officials of the agency allegedly diverted N263.4m between October and December 2014.
Adenekan, who is a Compliance Officer with Stanbic IBTC Bank, told the trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi that the N263.4m was paid in four tranches into the bank account of a contractor, Delosa Limited, after which it was transferred also in several tranches into bank accounts belonging to some officials of NAMA.
Abdulsalam was arraigned before the court alongside Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, his wife, Joy, Ayodele Adegorite, who is the Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, Clara Aliche, and two Limited Liability companies Randville Investment Limited, Multeng Travels and Tours Limited by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on a 24 count charge of conspiracy and fraud.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum each.
Adenekan, who is the first prosecution witness, while being led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said, “On October 16, 2014, N38.8m came into Delosa’s account. That same day, N9m in four places were transferred into Randville Investment Limited account. That same day, N2.3m was also paid into Randville account.
“On November 11, 2014, N98.2m came into Delosa’s account. On that day, N9m in three places were transferred to Randville. Another N3m was transferred to Randville the same day, while N7.8m was transferred to Multeng and Tours Limited.
“On December 3, 2014, N88.9m came in. The same day, N9m in four places were transferred to Randville and another N2.5m was transferred to Randville.
“On December 7, 2014, N37.5m came into Delosa’s account from the Central Bank of Nigeria. On the 18th, N10m in three places were transferred to Randville Investment Limited and later another N7m on the same day,” Adenekan testified.
The witness also identified the 3 defendants, Agbolade Segun, and his wife, Susan, as the signatory to the 10 fixed deposit accounts operated by Randville Investment Limited.
Justice Kuewumi has adjourned the matter till May 30 for continuation of trial.
In the 24 count charge marked FHC/ L/ 145C/2016, it was alleged that all the accused persons and one Nnamdi Udoh still at large between January 31, 2013 and September 3, 2015, with intent to defraud and by false pretence conspired together to induce the Agency to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion, to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the Agency.
The accused persons were also alleged to have converted various sums of money amounting to over N4m belonging to the Agency, to their personal use.