N5.6bn Dansukigate: Witness Tenders More Evidence of How Dasuki’s Aide Transferred Millions of Naira to Several Bank Accounts

Prosecuting
witness, Hassan Seidu, during the continuation of trial in- chief, in the
ongoing trial of Nicholas Ashinze, former aide to ex- National Security
Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, told Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Okon
Abang, how the Commission was able to recover exhibit (i) 43 and (i) 44,
containing alleged money transfers and lists of beneficiaries and their account
numbers in the course of investigation.

At the
resumed trial on Friday, March 20, 2020, Seidu in his testimony was led in
evidence by prosecution counsel, Offem Uket. He narrated that exhibit (i) 44 is
one paper document written with red ink, dated 
April 17, 2014, and that the documents have account numbers of
individuals, Corporate organizations and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

According to
him, the names of the persons, entities and NGOs are Unity Continental Nig.
Ltd, represented by the 4th defendant, Law Partners & Associates,
represented by the 3rd defendant, Sologic Integrated Services, represented by
Vibrant Resources, and Helpline Organization.

He revealed
that the amount of money written on the list in the document was found to be
exactly the amount transferred to the various banks, through Geonel Integrated
Service Ltd’s accounts in Enterprise Bank, now Heritage bank.

The
prosecution witness also explained that N120million was transferred from Geonel
account in Enterprise bank, now Heritage Bank, to the account of Unity
Continental in Zenith Bank, represented by the first defendant.

He added
that another N550million was also transferred from the account of Geonel to the
account of Law Partners & Associates represented by Edidong Idiong;
N100million was transferred from the account of Geonel to the account of
Vibrant Resource in Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB.

According to
the witness, there was another transfer of N120million to the account of
Sologic Integrated Services, in Diamond Bank and another N500million
transferred from the account of Helpline Organization in Diamond Bank on the
same day, April 17, 2014, with the second defendant’s signature to the account
in Heritage Bank.

Seidu said
that among the list of names mentioned in exhibit (i) 44, it was only Helpline
Organization’s transactions that was transferred on Bank instruction. He added
that N1.390billion which was contained on the exhibit document was the same
amounts on the red ink which were transferred by Geonel Integrated to the
listed accounts.

According to
him, further investigation revealed that the names of the persons, entities and
NGO were supplied by the officials in the office of the NSA to Nicholas
Ashinze, the first defendant.

According to
Seidu, several items were discovered during the execution of search warrant at
Nicholas Ashinze residence on N0, 67, Vision Court Estate, Apo Abuja.

Counsel to
the first defendant, Ernest Nwoye, however, objected when the prosecution
counsel tendered the Exhibit (i) 43, in evidence.

According to
Nwoye, Section 36, subsection 6a, of the 1999, Constitution, stated that a
defendant, “shall be given adequate time and facility for the preparation of
his intent, been that the documents were never part of the documents initially
tendered in evidence to avoid surprises in court”.

Justice
Abang, thereafter, adjourned till May 7 and 8, 2020, for continuation of
hearing and to enable the prosecution to further respond to the argument before
the Court.