NAN-H-48
Goje
Jos, June 20, 2017 (NAN) A prosecution witness has told a Jos Federal High Court that the N5 billion facility granted by Access Bank to Gombe State in 2010 was not paid into the account of its former governor, Alhaji Danjuma Goje.
“Not even a Kobo was paid into Goje’s account; the loan was disbursed into various banks. Nothing was paid into an individual account,” the witness, Mr Ifesineke Owafil, Compliant Officer, Access Bank Plc, said on Tuesday.
Owafil was testifying in a fraud case involving N25 billion brought against Goje, a serving senator, by the EFCC.
He told the court, presided by Justice Benjamin Quadiri, that allegations that monies were paid into Goje’s personal account were not true.
Goje has been facing an 18- count charge of conspiracy and money laundering since 2012.
Also being charged along with Goje are Alhaji Aliyu El-Nafarty, former Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Sambo Tumu, his cousin, who was contracted to supply food to the Government House, and one S.M. Dakoro, a businessman.
According to the EFCC, the quartet conspired to defraud the state of about N25 billion via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.
One of the allegations claimed that a N5 billion loan facility, obtained from the Access Bank, was paid into Goje’s account.
But Owafil, who was led in evidence by Mr Wahab Shittue, the EFCC’s prosecuting Counsel, said that nothing was paid into Goje’s account, and further confirmed that with bank documents indicating how the loan was obtained and disbursed.
The documents were accepted and admitted in evidence after the witness testified to their genuineness.
Under cross examination by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Counsel to Goje, Owafil said that the loan facility came in four tranches which were distributed into different banks.
When asked whether any money was transferred into the account of the four accused persons, the witness said “no”.
“I didn’t see that; I have told you that our bank, Access Bank Plc, granted the loan facility after the then Gombe State government met our conditions.
“The money entered into two accounts of the state – FAAC and Capital Project – from where it was disbursed to various banks, ’’ the witness explained.
He told the court that the Gombe government met the eight loan conditions before it was granted the facility, adding that it never defaulted in payment.
When asked what the loan was meant for, as contained in the government’s letter, Owafil quoted the letter as stating that the loan would be sunk into developing the Gombe International Airport, the Gombe Hospital, Tudun Wada Water Project, among other infrastructures.
Owafil also confirmed that his bank did not have any problem with the transaction and never complained to EFCC or any authority or person.
Quadiri has adjourned the case to Wednesday, June 21, 2017, for continuation of hearing. (NAN)
TYC/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin