Witness told court he shared N121m on accuser’s instruction
(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Thursday, presented its sixth witness in the ongoing
trial of a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others for the alleged
diversion of over N2billion.
Others are Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche,
Governor Ameche Juan, Blokz and Stonz Limited and Alkenzo Logistics Limited.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel
Rotimi Oyedepo, led in evidence one
Uchenna Emenalo, younger brother to
Emeka Emenalo, the owner of O2 Services Limited, the company that was allegedly
used to divert part of the proceeds from the Committee on International
Shipping and Ports Security in NIMASA.
Uchenna told the court that he approached the third accused
person, Ekene Nwakuche as a former school mate to help him secure any contract
that his brother's company, O2 Services Limited could handled.
The witness further disclosed that after his discussion with
the third accused person, he was asked to provide their company’s name and
account details.
The witness told the court how between March 2014 and June
2015, O2 Services Limited received about N120m which he personally disbursed
based on instructions from the third accused person Ekene Nwakuche. The third
accused persons provided him with different account number into which the said
amount was paid.
When confronted with
exhibit P17a and b which are documents that supposedly emanated from O2
Services Limited as Contract Application Document and Invoices for
payment, the witness said the signatures
on the documents were neither his, nor his brother's.
Asked whether any of the contract awarded to his brother’s
company were executed, the witnessed said ‘no’.
Earlier in his evidence,
Uchenna admitted that O2 Services Limited is into Agro Allied Products
and lacked competence in security related services.
The witness also denied knowing any General Manager, Field
Operations at O2 services Limited as the company is solely run by his brother.
During cross examination, Joseph Nwobike, SAN, counsel for
the first accused person asked the witness if he runs any business by himself
to which he answered, no. Uchenna also confirmed that Ekene told him that the
contract was Security related but that their company would be registered as
RSO, Registered Security Organisation.
E.D Onyeke counsel for the second accused person asked the
witness if in the statement he made to EFCC he mentioned the email address of
his brother or the address of O2 Services Limited. Uchenna said he only used his house address
in his statement as he was not asked the office address. The witness also said
the same thing when he was asked if he gave the EFCC a copy of his brother's
company letterhead.
When asked by Adio, counsel to Ekene, whether he benefitted
from the money that was paid into O2 Services Limited account, Uchenna admitted
receiving the sum of N600,000 for
Logistics and bank charges.
Comments
Post a Comment