Dasuki said I should give Jonathan’s cousin $40m — Witness

The trial of Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan began on Tuesday, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Mahe, who gave account of how he transferred $40m to ‘One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited’, a company owned by Robert.

Azibaola and his wife, Stella, are standing trial before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja for seven counts bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.

The witness said on August 20, 2014, Dasuki told him to pay $40m into the account of One Plus Holdings for reasons unknown.

He 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 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.”

Source: Punch