Hamma Adama Bello, the prosecution’s eighth witness (PW8) in the trial against former Head of Service (HoS) Winifred Oyo-Ita, provided testimony on April 25 alleging that the defendant and her subordinates diverted public funds into their private companies.
Appearing before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Bello stated that Oyo-Ita allegedly used Slopes International Limited and Good Deal Investments Limited (fifth and sixth defendants, respectively) to fraudulently award government contracts to herself through Garba Umar (fourth defendant).
The witness presented bank account statements showing transactions made into the accounts of the alleged companies, including a payment of over N42.7 million into Good Deal Investment Ltd’s account. Bello alleged that Umar incorporated the company with Oyo-Ita’s knowledge and admitted to paying her from the proceeds of contracts.
Bello further disclosed that a transfer of over N20 million was made to Asanaya Projects Ltd’s account in the name of Ibrahim Madu. The mandate card for the account bore the signature of Ugbong Okon Effiok (seventh defendant), who allegedly incorporated the company with Oyo-Ita’s knowledge.
According to the witness, the investigation revealed that Effiok also opened the account of U and U Global Services Limited, which received payments from the federal government, including over N40 million in 2016.
Bello also presented evidence of transactions made into the Fidelity Bank account of Prince Mega Logistics Ltd, which allegedly showed outward payments to Oyo-Ita and other individuals.
The witness further stated that Oyo-Ita, her special assistants, and Effiok were interviewed by the EFCC, and chats from Oyo-Ita’s phone revealed conversations about contracts and payments.
The trial has been adjourned until April 30, 2024. CONTINUE READING
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