Stella George, a witness, in the ongoing trial of Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday told Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that there was an inflow of N300 million from the Office of National Security Adviser, (ONSA) to the account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited owned by the accused.
George, a banker with Sterling Bank, who was led in evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN) stated that, on March 18, 2015, N137, 200,000 was transferred to Kumu Golo Limited and another transfer of N178,800,000 was made to North Polo Global Services same day.
George said the Certified True Copies (CTC) of account opening package, mandate card and statement of account from January 2015 to date of BAM Projects and Property Limited, as well as copies of instruments used for inflow and outflow from the account, were all made available to EFCC on request. Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Solomon Umoh, (SAN), George said although she was obliged to know her customers, especially the account owner, she did not know anything about the companies that received the money under reference.
The former PDP chief is being prosecuted alongside his son, Bello Abba Mohammed, on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the EFCC.
The first prosecution witness (PW1) Rouqayya Ibrahim, an operative of the commission, had in evidence on Tuesday, February 16 stated that a payment of N300m was made in two tranches to the accused company’s account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited from the funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of the former NSA.
Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who leads EFCC’s media and publicity unit said the case has been adjourned to May 18, for continuation.