He was the 2nd prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former
NIMASA boss, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others over alleged theft of
N2.6 billion belonging to NIMASA.
Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba along with
three others – Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan –
and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics
Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.
In a twenty-two count charge filed before the court by the EFCC, they
were accused of converting a total of N2,658,957,666 between December
23, 2013 and May 28 this 2015.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Onuoha told the court that N546,802,000 million was paid into his
account with Zenith bank even though he did not tender any proposal or
carried out any contract for NIMASA.
He further told the court that the disbursement of the money was
facilitated by the third accused (Ekene Nwakuche) who was his secondary
school mate.
He narrated in a graphic details of how he received the money:
Sometimes in 2013 when Nwakuche was employed by NIMASA, he
approached him and pleaded with him to ‘remember him’ if there was any
contract he could implement. Shortly after he made the request, Nwakuche
called him on phone to enquire if he had any registered company that
could be used for transactions as well as the company’s accounts.
Onuoha narrated further that not too long after he supplied details
of his company and his bank account to Nwakuche that, he received
several alerts from his bank totaling N546,802,000 million.
On August 2014 he received N21,802,000; on November 6, 2014, he
received the sum of N318million and on November 25, 2014, he received
alert of N207million into his account.
He further stated that when he inquired from him on what the money was meant for, he was told to wait for further instructions.
Onuoha told the court that he was later instructed to transfer the money to different accounts by Nwakuche
Under cross examination, by Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN, counsel to the
first accused Patrick Akpobolokemi, Mr. Onuoha told the court that he
had never met Akpobolokemi or received any instruction from him.
Also testifying today, a Bureau De Change operator, Hussein Sabo said
on March 2014 he was approached by one Muhammed Darlington who told him
that the second accused person (Captain Ezekiel Agaba) wanted to buy
dollars,
Sabo in his testimony said “Darlington collected my account numbers
and several millions of naira were paid into the account which I used to
buy dollars.
Sabo also confirmed that on March 3, 2014, monies were paid into his
account namely, N33,800,000; N35,000,000; N20,000,000 and N3,000,000
respectively.
He also disclosed that between the month of March 2014 and December
2014 he received through his account, N85,305,000, N155,300,000,
N13,000,000, N10,000,000, and N84,000,000 respectively.
Justice Buba has adjourned further hearing in the matter till
February 2nd, 5th, 16th and 19th respectively when EFCC is expected to
call more witnesses.
