Arms deal: Jonathan’s cousin closes defence in alleged $40m fraud
Cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, on Wednesday closed his defence in the alleged $40m fraud case preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, the second prosecution witness and the last witness called by the defence, Iyerifama Jaja, said his group, comprised of 13 members, was paid N5m from One-plus holdings Nigeria Limited, as compensation from the Federal Government.
The witness, who said he signed for the money he collected told the court that, he was into oil bunkering, with other boys before he was introduced to One-Plus, through one Mr. Wellington, and was asked to leave the line of business for compensation of N5m.
The witness said after the compensation was paid, all of us that were involved in the oil bunkering business in the riverine coast of Rivers and Akwa Ibom area of the Niger Delta region abandoned the business and left the creeks till today.
Aziboala had told the court that the $40m he received from the detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), was judiciously used for the purpose for which it was paid.
Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, Azibaola confessed to collecting the money from the office of the NSA, but denied that the money was converted to personal use.
He said the money was for special assignment meant to assuage the security risk in the Niger Delta region of the country at that time and it was used for that.
Azibaola and his wife were first charged in 2016 alongside their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited on a nine-count criminal charge.
However, the court in 2018 struck out seven out of the nine-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission preferred against them.
The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, also discharged and acquitted Aziboala’s wife, Stella, of all allegations levelled against her in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/ 113/2016.
Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter till February 28, 2019.
(PUNCH)
