Tosin Owobo, an investigator of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that some of
the funds allegedly diverted from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were meant for
the purchase of aviation fuel and for “operations” related to fighting the Boko
Haram insurgency.
He
made this known on Tuesday while testifying in the trial of a former Chief of
Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), and some others.
The
others are a former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob
Adigun, and a former NAF Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore
Olugbenga Gbadebo.
The
EFCC accused them of converting about N22.8bn from the Air Force through
various companies, namely Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd,
Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey
Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd, and Solomon Health Care
Ltd.
In
his testimony during the continuation of their trial on Tuesday, the EFFC
investigator said the funds were transferred from the Ministry of Defence to
the NAF operation account with various descriptions, including “Operation Lafia
Dole.”
He
said a team of eight operatives from the anti-graft agency, including himself,
investigated the sources of funds which flowed into NAF operation account.
Owobo
disclosed that there were inflows of N1billion on January 17, 2013; N100million
on May 15, 2013, and N18.6million on June 12, 2013, from the Ministry of
Defence Headquarters.
Cross-examining
the witness, counsel to the former Air Chief, Bolaji Ayorinde, asked, “While
doing analysis during your investigations, did you discover what purpose the
inflow was meant for?”
In
his response, the witness said, “After we began our investigations, the NAF
officers we had a discussion with told us that money paid into this account was
for operational activities.”
Ayorinde
further inquired, “Did you ask the Ministry of Defence why the N1billion was
paid from the Ministry?” while Owobo responded that he cannot remember.
Asked
if he knew what the N18.6 million was also meant for, the EFCC investigator
said they did not inquire.
Owobo
also claimed that another former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh
(rtd), was among those interviewed during the investigation and that he made a
statement.
Ayorinde
then asked that Badeh’s statement, which was not frontloaded, be provided,
stressing that he needed the statement for his client’s defence.
The
prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, then prayed that the matter be stood down
for 20 minutes to enable him to get Badeh’s statement.
He
also opposed Ayorinde’s application for an adjournment, saying it would further
delay the case.
However,
all the other lawyers on the defence team rejected the application for a
stand-down, insisting it was better to adjourn the case.
In
his ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris held, “Section 36 of the Constitution
guarantees the right to fair hearing, which means that the rights and interests
of parties to a dispute before the court should be protected.”
“Where
a party to a criminal trial has applied for documents in the possession of the
state to enable him to prepare adequately for his defence, the state has a duty
to make available to that party, duly certified copies of the documents upon
payment of the required legal fees.
“In
the interest of justice, I think it is more convenient to adjourn in line with
the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. I know that while
justice delayed is justice denied, justice rushed is justice crushed. We shall
adjourn in the interest of justice.”
The
matter was consequently adjourned till May 15.
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