Dasukigate: Yuguda Authorised Payment Of Over N1.5bn – Witness

BEVERLY HILLS, February 23, (THEWILL) – An analyst with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) forensic and accounting unit, Rukayat Ibrahim, has told a Federal High Court sitting before Justice Ramat Mohammed, in Abuja, that the former minister of state for finance, Bashiru Yuguda, authorised the payment of ‘a little over N1.5 billion’ to Ja’mal Halal, a Bureau De Change operator.

Ibrahim informed the court during cross examination by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs that during analysis of the statement of account of Bam Projects and Properties Limited with Sterling Bank, it realised that the account received a total of N300 million in two trenches of N150 million on February 27, 2015, during investigation, the authorisation of over N1.5 billion by Yuguda was uncovered among other payments from the Nigerian Airforce to Ja’mal Halal.

During interrogation of the account and business owner, it was further revealed that all the deposits made earlier were at the instruction of Yuguda, who is currently standing trial alongside the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, in another high court, including the transfer of N300 million to Bam Projects and Properties to which the defendants claimed the money was used for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 elections.

Earlier, the principal witness one (PW 1) had given evidence relating to the origin of the N300 million paid into the account of the 2nd defendant, affirming her claim with documents relating to correspondence between the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministry of Finance and the office of the NSA.

She added that, the said N300 million was paid in March 2015, while the other N300 million paid in two trenches in February 2015.

The first defendant, Haliru’s son is alleged to have received N600 million from Dasuki's office on behalf of Bam Projects, an Abuja-based realty company.

The former minister of defence, who recently had a spinal surgery, is accused of receiving N300 million cash from the DasukiGate largess 11 days to the 2015 general elections.

Story by David Oputah