How ex-NSA Dasuki transferred $40 million to Jonathan’s cousin – Zenith Bank official

FILE PHOTO: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan
FILE PHOTO: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan

An official of Zenith Bank has told a Federal high Court in Abuja that $40 million was transferred from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) into the account of a company owned by a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Roberts, and his wife.

Olabode Farinola, a compliance officer with the bank, is a principal witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of Mr. Roberts and his wife, Stella.

He told the court presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that the money was transferred to OnePlus Holdings LTD from the office of the NSA according to bank description.

Under cross-examination by counsel to Mr. Roberts, Chris Uche Mr. Farinola also admitted that the NSA never complained to Zenith Bank that the $40 million was wrongly transferred.

Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, Nigeria
Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, Nigeria

“I’m not aware of the purpose of the inflow or how it was disbursed but we didn’t receive any letter from the NSA that the money was wrongly transferred”, Mr. Farinola said.

Mr. Roberts and his wife are facing a seven-count charge brought against them by the EFCC.

They were accused of diverting $40 million meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for Nigeria’s Special Forces. The funds were allegedly transferred from the account of the Office of the NSA domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

During a previous cross examination, Ibrahim Mahe, another principal witness had told the court that only the former NSA‎, Sambo Dasuki, could explain why OnePlus Holdings Limited got a $40 million pipeline security contract.

Mr. Mahe, who recently retired as Permanent Secretary, Special Services Operations (SSO) in the NSA’s offic‎e, told the court that he paid Oneplus $40 million out of the $600 million special security fund sourced from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Azibaola Robert
Azibaola Robert

He however failed to tell the court the names of the companies that benefited from the remaining $560 million of the special security fund.

Mr. Farinola, while being led in evidence by Sylvanus Tahir, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that $39, 999, 985 was received by the accused persons on September 10, 2014.

The counsel, Mr. Tahir, informed the court that more witnesses would be presented at the next hearing as some of them are not currently in the country.

The case was adjourned by Justice Dimgba to November 18 for continuation of trial and cross examination.

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  • Oladele

    You would have thought Dr Jonathan would bring sanity into governance instead he just let the dogs out!

    • Du Covenant

      My broda, you remember the hypocrite also claimed to have fought corruption without making noise or headlines?. He also claimed recently that, they bought plenty of ammunition for the Nigerian army so he does not know what the current administration is talking about after the whole world saw results within months of demonstrating the will to tackle boko haram in the NE. Judgement day awaits each and every one of us!.

    • Dazmillion

      Jona declared a yam festival for the goats

  • Lala Hansy

    The money according to witnesses were paid from a purpose. The fact should be to establish if it was judiciously used for the said purpose. No blame games yet.

    • tundemash

      That is quite easy; let One Holdings and Jonathan’s cousin show the contract papers signed for which they were paid $40m.

      • Aminu

        Haba Tundemash,the funds was proceeds from the sales of crude oil at backyard of Mr Jona why are u demanding for contract bidding documents you have gone too far please and remember stealing was not corruption under Oga Jona.

        • tundemash

          Oloshi, you are now Aminu ? ???? Mr0n, no one falls for that cheap trick; stop being ashamed of the hole u came from .

    • Short & Sharp

      GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY IN FINANCIAL TERMS.

      • dele20

        BADLUCK JONADAFT IS A POLITICAL ARM ROBBER

  • share Idea

    The more this administration keep chasing GEJ, the more they expose themselves. The GEJ’s cousin was charged by EFCC for receiving money meant for arms from Dasuki’s $2.1B, today, the prosecution witness is saying that payment was from Security votes. Nigeria we hail thee

    • Wale

      They are only interested in “why and what for”, $40 mil is not a chicken feed dough.

    • visionary.

      And your point is?

      • Kamalu

        He is under the influence.

    • Nkem

      I don’t get your argument.

      • share Idea

        My argument is that FG and its agencies are feeding the public with wrong information. Let them do their investigation and present appropriate facts.

        Are you not in this country when these guys were charged to court and the headline of why there were charged to court. If government had done their investigation properly, they story will be consistent. Little wonder why EFCC have not been able to secure any conviction under this administration in-spite of how dramatic they make some of these issues look water tight.

        Have you asked yourself, why this government is reluctant to invite GEJ for questioning. I feel ashamed with all these drama. If the administration is sure of all their facts, I expect them to arrest not if inviting GEJ. Crime is a crime, if they can not arrest nor invite him, why wasting public peace with all these tales.

    • kinsly

      It’s now clear that you cannot read to understand. Upgrade your brain, I beg you.

      • Kamalu

        Please pardon him. He took excess of Sapele water for Holy Communion

    • Ismail Jamal

      Shame on you, even what is written here, u find difficult o read. Na for some people o.

  • Rommel

    Time has come for the phenomenon called Goodluck Jonathan to be studied as a course by people who wish to work for financial crime agencies

  • Nkem

    I hear the guy is a pastor. I hear that anytime they try to get him to explain what he used the money for, he and his wife would reply with a round of praise and worship session. I hear that is why they still do not know what he used the money for.

  • smart G

    Sick and tired of these Dasuki tales by moonlight.
    Fix our economy and save the hungry masses.
    2019 is just few months away.

    • Ismail Jamal

      Why not go and use plantain leaves to fix the economy. U are sick and tired, then stop reading the news. When the cases come to a close, u can come out of your hiding. With all these monies in dollars shared recklessly, why wont the country lack foreign exchange. Nonsense

    • Shahokaya

      Dud, you are entitled to your opinion, so long as you are aware that it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.

    • en

      Social media children of anger. Instead of them chasing the thief, Goodluck Jonathan, they are angry with the person that came to repair the damage. Bloody fools

  • thusspokez

    An official of Zenith Bank has told a Federal high Court in Abuja that $40 million was transferred from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) into the account of a company owned by a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Roberts, and his wife.

    I hope that Zenith bank is jointly prosecuted by the EFCC for facilitating corruption.

  • DON

    “During previous cross examination, Mr Ibrahim Mahe, another principal witness had told the court that only the former NSA , Sambo Dasuki, could explain why Oneplus Holding Limited got $40 million pipeline security contract.”
    I thought they told us that Dasuki was dashing money without contract.

  • en

    Goodluck and Faka Jonathan are Chief Armed Robbers. They both need to be prosecuted for causing a monumental destruction of Nigeria. Shameless couple.

    • dele20

      Can you just imagine? Thank God we are no more under the corruption era

  • dammieboi

    Theft of Public fund should be seen as dangerous and unattractive because of likelihood of prosecution.
    For this reason, it’s necessary that people who abuse public funds are maximally prosecuted and embarrassed.
    This is essential for any economic salvage or development to take place. Otherwise, any efforts is gathering water in a basket.

  • dele20

    Can you just imagine such huge amount of money? The previous administration massacred Nigeria & sucked Nigeria dry