How General Atewe Disbursed N8.5bn Nimasa Cash – Witness

BEVERLY HILLS, October 19, (THEWILL) – A witness in the trial of Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Egozi and one Josephine Otuoga has told a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos how Atewe, disbursed over N8.5bn from the account of the Joint Task Force, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.

The witness, Teslim Ajuwol a compliance officer with Zenith Bank made the disclosure through the account statement of the Joint Task Force, under Atewe, former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield.

At the last adjourned date, the witness told the court that there were several transactions between the 5th and 16th of September 2014 to the tune of N1.9bn.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday , Teslim added that there were more transactions between September 24, 2014 and May 18th 2015.

According to Wilson Uwujaren, Head, media and publicity, EFCC, the instruments forwarded to the EFCC by Zenith Bank, showed the second defendant and one Lieutenant Ikioubi Oyadugha are the signatories to the account.

He added that all the debit transactions from the JTF were signed by the two men.

Teslim identified accounts of at least three companies to which part of the monies were sent. The companies are: Jaggan Limited, Lord Fem Engineering Services Limited and First Investment and Property Limited.

The account statements, account opening documents and certificates of identification of the three companies were identified by the witness and same admitted in evidence while the instruments used to debit the JTF account were admitted as exhibit.

When it was time for cross examination, the defence counsels M.M Ajuwa, E.I.M Ikuotu SAN and Mathieu G. Oka requested for adjournment.

Their prayer was granted by the court and the case was subsequently adjourned to November 22 and December 5, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Story by Oputah David.