By ADENIKE AYODELE

A bureau de change operator, Mr. Musa Mohammed, on Thursday testified against the Chairman of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Philips Fatuyi, charged with N43.5 million fraud.

Fatuyi is standing trial alongside his company, Oceanview Oil and Gas Ltd., on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences.

He, however, pleaded not guilty before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

Mohammed was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Spife Owede.

The witness told the court that he received an invitation from EFCC to come for questioning as part of investigations into the alleged offences of the defendant.

“I came across the defendant sometime in September 2016. He gave me $40,000 cash to help him change.

“I called my colleague to come and help pay the money into his account at the rate of $1 to N463 sum of N18, 520,000.

“Afterwards, I received an invitation from the EFCC to come for questioning as part of investigations into the offences by the defendant.

“I wrote a statement at the EFCC in which I told investigators how I got to know the defendant and the business transaction we had together,” the witness said.

NAN reports that the statement of the witness was admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit P8, following no objections from defence counsel, Mr Olarewaju Ajanaku.

The witness told the court while being cross-examined by Ajanaku that he got to know the defendant in 2016 and that the business transaction he had with him was the only one between them.

Owede thereafter imformed the court that Mohammed was prosecution’s last witness, adding that prosecution would be closing its case against the defendant.

Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until May 26 for the defendant to open defence. (NAN)