Akin Kuponiyi

A detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Tosin Owobo, on Tuesday, told a Federal High Court, Lagos, how three Air Force Chiefs, Air Marshal Adesola  Amosu, a former Chief Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, a former Director of Finance and Budgeting of Nigeria Air Force (NAF), and his deputy, Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga, used fake Oil and Gas Firms to launder  N5.9 billion.

Owobo, the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former Air Force Chiefs, gave graphic details before Justice Mohammed Idris of  how the trio diverted the sum of N3 billion received from Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA) and other monies received from different Nigeria  Air Force accounts amounting to N5.9 billion for their personal uses.

Air Marshal Amosu, Vice Marshall Adigun, and Commodore Gbadebo, alongside eight limited liability companies are being tried over alleged N22.8 billion fraud.

The companies are: Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care.

The banks named in the alleged fraud are UBA, Skye Bank and FCMB.

At the resumed trial of the former Air Force Chiefs, Owobo while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that upon Investigation, it was discovered that some of the limited liability companies charged alongside the accused three Air Force Chiefs: Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, never deal in oil and gas business, rather they dealt in foreign exchange business.

Owobo told the court that Vice Marshall Adigun and Commodore Gbadebo who were the only signatories to NAF Special Emergency Operation account domiciled with FCMB Bank Plc, received the sum of N3 billion from NIMASA, which were paid in three tranches, between September 15, 23 and 29, 2014.

He said the transfer of the N3 billion was as a result of approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIMASA and NAF.

He stated that after transfer of the first N1 billion on August 28, 2014, EFCC discovered through its analysis of NAF’s statement of account that on September 2 and 4, 2014, there was various transfers of the money to Right Option Oil and Gas and Judal Oil and Gas Limited, in the tranches of N328 million, N336 million, N165. 790 million and N170.210 million.

The EFCC witness stated when the two oil and gas companies’ Managing Director, in person of one Adegbite Adelakun,  was asked to explain the purpose of the money,  he told the Commission that he does not operate Oil and Gas Company but deal in foreign exchange business, and that after collecting the money,  he took the dollars equivalent to the account officer of NAF, who later gave the money to Commodore Gbadebo.

The witness also told the court that there was a transfer of the sum of N336 million to AGBS Oil and Gas but the money was reversed to the NAF’s account due to disagreement on exchange rate.

Owobo, who is an Investigator with EFCC said the second oil and gas company, Delfina Oil and Gas received the sum of N280.650 million, another N262.416 million and N480.920, while it transferred to  McAllan oil and gas the sum of N243,919 million, and N114.064 million.

He added that from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents received by EFCC, it was revealed that the companies’ accounts were being operated by one Ayoka Esther and McAllan Adenike, while its accounting officer was Oshinsanmi Olufunke.

The documents also revealed that the Directors are: Jacob Fummi, Jacob Fredrick and Jacob Samuel.

The witness also stated that upon further investigation, it was discovered that the same passport photographs were used for the said Ayoka Esther and McAllan Olufunke, and that the second defendant, Adigun admitted to have supplied the photographs and being the only operator of the account.

The witness also stated that between September 23 and 25, 2014, there were total transfer of the sum of N976 million from NAF’s account to Labol Oil and Gas Limited, and that upon interrogating the Managing Director of Labol Oil and Gas Limited, he denied being into oil and gas business but said he deal in foreign exchange.

The witness told the court that the Managing Director told EFCC that he changed all the monies to US Dollars and gave them to  Gbadebo.

Owobo also said apart from money from NIMASA, there was a sum of N1 billion from NAF project account which was transferred from NAF headquarters to Skye Bank, and that the money was transferred to Delcon Installer, Namuduka Ventures Limited, Marab General Concept, and 7×7 Limited in the sum of N16. 980 million, N120.420 million and N17.2 million, N86 million respectively, while the sum of N23.020 million was withdrawn in favour of Commodore Gbadebo.

The EFCC Witness further stated that on April 22, 2014, the sum of N120 million was paid by NAF Project account and the money was disbursed to Shawai Limited, Hebron Housing and Property Limited, the companies owned by James Bola Adigun.

He added that the directors the company’s accounts are: Ayoka Esther, Oladele James, and Ann Toluwalope, and that Vice Marshall Bola Adigun stated that he used James Oladele to operate Hebron’s account.

Furthermore, the witness stated that other funds from NAF’s Project account at different time were disbursed to Shawai Trading Limited, Adeyinka Amosu, Afuwa Integrated Services. Such disbursements were listed as: N34.460 million; N10 million: N10.110 million; N15.590 million; N37.620 million and N39.4 million.

He also stated that the sum of N45.6 million was transferred to Gbemisola Ventures’ account with FCMB, which has link with Commodore Gbadebo adding that all the Corporate Affairs Comission documents of Gbemisola Ventures’ were filled by Owodunni Olugbenga Gbadebo, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

From the Exhibit A4, which has been admitted by the court, the witness said Delfina Oil and Gas Limited owned by Commodore Adigun received about N10 billion from several NAF Projects accounts.

He also stated that one Omolara Omolola, who happened to be the wife of former Chief of Airforce,  and Director of Solomon Healthcare Services, also received several million from the NAF special project account which she used in buying equipments to the healthcare.

He also stated that the three defendants diverted several millions through Tripadize BDC which in turn changed the money used in buying the equipment for Solomon Healthcare Services Limited.

However, proceedings were brought to a halt, when the lawyers representing the defendants told the court that they can only response to the verification of the statements of their clients which were tendered by the prosecutor.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Mohammed Idris, adjourned the matter till tomorrow Wednesday, for continuation of trial.

It would be recalled that the witness, Owobo, had at last adjourned date told the Court, how Air Marshal Amosu, Adigun and Gbadebo diverted the sum of N3 billion meant for Security of country’s Maritime zone to his personal oil and gas companies.

Air Marshal Amosu, Air Vice Marshal Adigun, Air Commodore Owodunni Olugbenga and their eight companies, are being tried before the court by the EFCC over alleged N22.8 billion fraud.

The accused persons were first arraigned before the court on June 29, on 23 counts charge bordering on Fraud, money laundering, and stealing.

The offences are contrary to sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.