‘Documents for NAMA’s N5.8b laundered funds missing in bank’

Third witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kayode Olanrewaju, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that duty receipts of an alleged N5.8 billion fraud were missing in the bank.The money laundering case involves a former Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalami and six others.

The witness, who is former Compliance Officer with a new generation bank, testified at the trial of Abdulsalami, Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun and Adegorite’s wife, Joy, who is Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.Others are Clara Aliche, Randville Investments Limited, Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun.

The defendants are facing a 24 count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy, fraud, forgery and unlawful conversion of funds.While being led-in-evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the court that on March 15, 2016, his former employer received a letter from the anti-graft agency requesting an enquiry report on some documents.

Olanrewaju said upon receiving the letter, it was forwarded to the bank’s Business Unit, responsible for foreign operations, to enable it to ascertain if the bank actually issued the duty receipts.

The prosecution witness also told the court that from the financial institution’s internal investigations, it could not confirm any of the documents in its records. He added that upon conclusion of investigations, his former employer in a letter dated March 23, 2016, responded to EFCC that the documents purportedly issued by the bank could not be found in its records.

Upon conclusion of the witness’ testimony, Oyedepo urged the court to admit EFCC’s letter to the bank and its response. Counsel to the defendants did not oppose the prosecutor’s request and it was consequently admitted and marked as exhibit C1 and C2 by the trial judge, Babs Kuewumi. The court, therefore, adjourned further hearing of the matter till May 2 and 3, 2019.