Dasuki spent N650m on national prayer, says EFCC

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness , Michael Adariku, on Thursday told an Abuja High Court how N 1. 4 bn security vote from the office of the National Security Adviser was diverted.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Adariku, an EFCC officer of EFCC , made this known when he testified in the trial of Sambo Dasuki , a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan .
Dasuki is standing trial on 19 counts bordering on alleged diversion of N 13. 6bn since 2015.
On trial along with Dasuki were Shuaibu Salisu , a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser , and Aminu Baba -Kusa , a former NNPC Executive Director , and two others .
Adariku, the first prosecution witness said that the diversion was made through a company owned by a former Director , Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , Aminu Baba- Kusa .
The company, Acacia Holdings Ltd . , was credited with the sum from the accounts of ONSA purportedly for a national prayer to be organised for Nigeria .
The witness , led in evidence by EFCC ’ s counsel , Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN ), narrated how N 650 m was transferred from the ONSA ’ s Zenith Bank account to Acacia Holdings account with Ecobank for the purpose of the said prayer.
He , however, said that from the response of Ecobank , N 650 m was transferred to various individuals and companies contrary to the purpose it was disbursed for .
Adariku further revealed that on April 20 , 2015 , N 150m was transferred to the account of Baba -Kusa , and that on April 22, another N 70m was transferred to one Jubril Abdullahi for purposes not stated .
He said that on April 22, an account to account transfer of N 50 m was forwarded to the account of Baba- Kusa between May 4 and May 6, 2015 .
The witness said that another transfer of N 150 m was made to a company, Medical Plastics Ltd . found to be owned by Baba - Kusa and his wife , Hauwa , who own 1. 8 million shares in the company .
The witness further revealed how N 200m was transferred from ONSA ’ s account with Zenith Bank to Acacia Holdings Ltd . account with the United Bank for Africa on October 9, 2014.
He added that another N 600 m was transferred from ONSA ’ s account to Acacia on April 17 , 2015 .
While in the process of giving vivid account of how the sums were transferred to various individuals and companies, counsel to Acacia Holdings , Dr Biodun Layonu (SAN ) raised an objection .
Layonu objected to the witness ’ testimony on the ground that the documents relating to the transactions were not clear in the copies that the prosecution served them .
He said that most of the figures being quoted by the witness had been blanked out in the document in his possession .
The judge , Justice Husseini Baba- Yusuf, acknowledged the observation by the defence counsel for Acacia and directed that the prosecution should make clearer copies available to the defendants before the next adjourned date .
He then adjourned the trial until December 13 and 14 for continuation of trial.
meanwhile, the EFCC on Thursday called two prosecution witnesses who testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja in respect of the N 2. 1 bn fraud charges instituted against the African Independent Television ’ s founder , Chief Raymond Dokpesi , and his Daar Investment and Holdings Limited .
The two witnesses told the court how they supplied generators , a transformer and security doors valued at millions of naira , to Dokpesi ’ s houses in Lagos and Agenebode , Edo State , as well as his offices at different times after the sum of N 2. 1 bn was allegedly paid to the defendants by the Office of the National Security Adviser between January and March 2015 .
The Administrative Manager of Mikano International Ltd , Abuja branch , Mr . Peter Imoekor , testified as the seventh prosecution witness while the Managing Director , Gilgal Concepts Ltd , Mr . Fabian Ozoemina , testified as the eighth .
The witnesses were led by the prosecuting counsel , M