By TAIYE AGBAJE

A Zenith Bank Plc staff, Eucharia Ezeodi, and a director with the federal civil service, Felix Nweke, on Friday, testified against Anamekwe Nnabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), in the alleged N1.96 billion fraud.

They gave their testimonies before Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, while being led in evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nnabuoku was admitted to a N500 million bail with two sureties in the like sum after he was arraigned on Jan. 15 on a nine-count amended charge.

The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, listed Nnabuoku as sole defendant.

In count one of the charge filed on Nov. 27, 2024, the EFCC alleged that Nnabuoku, alongside Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited, Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large) and other persons (all at large) conspired to convert funds.

The funds were said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Giving her evidence, Ezeodi, the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), admitted knowing the latter while he was a director in the Federal Ministry of Defence.

?I am a banker with Zenith Bank. My office is at Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District in Abuja.

?I have worked for 15 years. I am a marketer in the bank. My duty is to generate business, bring new customers to the bank, etc,? she said.

The witness said sometimes in 2019, she met Nnabuoku at Federal Ministry of Defence as a Director of Finance and Account.

?I know him through Mr Felix Nweke,? she said.

She said sometimes in 2022, she was invited by the EFCC in respect of the corporate accounts opened for the four companies allegedly used by Nnabuoku to move money out of the ministry?s coffers.

She said the companies include Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited.

The PW-1 said she was questioned about what she knew about the accounts and those behind the opening.

She said the accounts, which were opened in 2019, had Mr Gideon Joseph as signatory.

?In 2019, I met them with Mr Nweke, I open the corporate account for them for Arafura Ltd, Theo Synergy Ltd,

She said in the course of her interaction with Mr Nweke, she also met Nnabuoku.

The witness identified the bank documents, including the statements of account for the four companies, account opening packages, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)?s documents, her signature on the documents, etc.

Iheanacho tendered all the documents and after it was not opposed by the defendant?s lawyer, Isidore Udenko, the judge admitted them in evidence.

During cross examination by Udenko, the banker said she had no personal relationship with Nnabuoku except on bank transactions.

When she was asked if Nnabuoku?s name reflected in any of the transactions, the witness said a director must not necessarily be a signatory to a company?s account.

She, however, said that a signatory to an account must bring his Identity Card, a Bank Verification Number (BVN), passport photograph, among others, which she said Joseph did.

Ezeodi said the nature of transactions in the account statements was simply deposit and withdrawal and that Mr Gideon Joseph did all the withdrawals, although Nnabuoku allegedly benefitted.

Also giving his evidence, Mr Felix Nweke said he worked under Nnabuoku when he was in Defence Ministry as deputy director.

?I am a civil servant and presently a director with federal civil service. I am in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation awaiting posting,? he said.

Nweke said between 2018 and 2020, he was a deputy director in charge of expenditure at the Defence Ministry.

He said part of his function was to prepare schedule of inflows and outflows that were due to the services (i.e the Army, Navy and the Air Force).

He said when he resumed in the ministry in 2018, Nnabuoku told him that there was the need to make funds available to facilitate the stakeholders, the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The witness said the defendant told him that they needed to be creative with regards to generating funds to facilitate the activities of the ministry.

He said the defendant told him that they needed to get companies through which funds could be pulled out and to be able to raise money and service the stakeholders in the ministry.

Nweke, who is the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), said he then contacted Gideon Joseph who comes to the ministry with his brother at the time to make supply.

He said though Joseph wanted him to assist in giving him contracts, Nweke said he told him that issues of contract were not within his purview.

He said he told Nnabuoku about Joseph and he advised that they should help him (Joseph).

?I took Gideon to Eucharia who has been coming to the ministry for business. I assisted him to open account with Zenith Bank,? he said.

The PW-2 said the banker assisted in opening the four accounts with Joseph?s name as signatory.

?When we go to public hearing and the National Assembly, after the hearing, we would have a private sitting where we discussed the need to raise the money for the ministry,? he said.

He said they would raise money either in naira or foreign currencies.

He alleged that the money was then given to Nnabuoku either directly or by proxy.

?Sometimes, the director will ask me to do some transfers to private persons,? he said.

Nweke said the generated funds were often used for welfare packages for the military because there was no such provision.

When the EFCC?s lawyer asked him how the funds were paid into these accounts, Nweke said the money ?is from the internal security operations account of the military.?

When asked who paid the money into the internal security operations account, the witness said ?it is from the ministry?s account that payments were made.?

The witness mentioned about five names from the bank documents who were workers in the Ministry of Defence.

He alleged that funds were also transferred into the bank accounts of these staff members and withdrawals were made and the money paid back into the four companies? accounts where Nnabuoku was allegedly the beneficiary.

After a cross examination by Nnabuoku?s lawyer, Udenko, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Feb 26 and March 5 for continuation of trial. (NAN)

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