AN investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bello Umar, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how Olugbenga Obadina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Almond Projects Limited, allegedly received ₦2.1 billion from the Office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), without executing any contract.
News Point Nigeria reports that testifying before Justice James Omotosho, Umar, who appeared as the first prosecution witness (PW-1), detailed how the payment was traced to Obadina’s company in multiple bank transactions despite the absence of any legitimate contract with the NSA’s office.
The ongoing trial forms part of the broader investigation into the alleged ₦33.2 billion arms procurement fraud involving funds earmarked by the Federal Government to combat Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Ibrahim Buba, Umar told the court that the investigation began following a petition from the NSA’s office alleging that Almond Projects Limited received payments for contracts that were never executed.
“After receiving the complaint, we wrote to the NSA’s office to provide payment details and to confirm if any contract existed with the defendants,” Umar testified.
“Their response clearly stated that no contract was awarded to Mr. Obadina or Almond Projects Limited. Yet, our findings showed payments totaling ₦2.1 billion, made in six tranches into accounts held at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Zenith Bank.”
According to Umar, the EFCC also contacted the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which confirmed that Obadina was indeed the beneficial owner of Almond Projects Limited.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the EFCC sought to tender six documents as evidence, including letters from the NSA’s office, bank statements, extra-judicial statements by the defendant, and CAC records.
However, defence counsel Adeola Adedipe (SAN) objected to the admissibility of some of the documents — particularly a May 5, 2016 letter from the NSA’s office and Obadina’s statement — arguing that they were not properly certified and that the statement was obtained under duress.
“My lord, the defendant was detained by the EFCC for about 40 days before making the statement. There was no video recording, no lawyer present, and the statement was not voluntarily made,” Adedipe argued.
He cited relevant sections of the Evidence Act (Sections 28 and 29) and Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to back his objection.
EFCC counsel, Ibrahim Buba, countered the defence’s argument, insisting that the NSA’s letter was properly obtained and directly relevant to the case.
“The documents originated from the NSA’s office and were received and acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The NSA’s office remains the competent authority to certify them,” Buba stated.
He further maintained that Obadina’s statement was taken in the presence of his lawyer, identified as Dr. Nasiru, and that the defence had not established any evidence of coercion.
“If the defence insists the statement was involuntary, we shall apply for a trial-within-trial to determine its voluntariness,” Buba added.
Justice Omotosho admitted into evidence the bank statements from GTB and Zenith Bank, the CAC registration documents, and one letter from the NSA’s office, marking them as Exhibits PWA to PWD.
He, however, reserved ruling on the admissibility of the contested May 5, 2016 letter, adjourning the matter until December 2, 2024, for further hearing.
Mr. Obadina and his company, Almond Projects Limited, were re-arraigned on January 13, 2024, on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦2.17 billion.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted ₦500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
One of the charges alleged that on April 3, 2014, Obadina and his company “directly took possession of ₦648 million” paid into Almond Projects Ltd’s Zenith Bank account (No. 1010921116) from the NSA’s office without any contract award, an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The case was initially before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who had adjourned for final written addresses before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.