2015 election: ‘Diezani collected N23bn from three oil marketers’

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The Federal High Court in Lagos Friday heard that a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
allegedly collected N23billion ($115.01million) from three oil
marketers ahead of the 2015 general election.

An investigator, Usman Zakari, said she allegedly distributed
the money to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs and others.

Zakari was testifying before Justice Muslim Hassan in the trial
of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke
Akinjide.

She was charged along with former Senator representing Oyo
Central Senatorial District, Ayo Adeseun; a PDP leader in Oyo
State, Chief Olarenwaju Otiti and Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is said
to be at large.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them
of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which
they reasonably ought to have known was part of proceeds of an
unlawful act, and without going through a financial
institution.

Zakari, the second prosecution witness, said Akinjide and others
allegedly received N650million cash in March 2015 at the Dugbe
branch of a bank in Ibadan on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions,
and that the money was part of N23billion which the former oil
minister kept in the bank.

According to the witness, the N23billion was the naira
equivalent of $115.01million which Mrs Alison-Madueke allegedly
collected from three oil marketers, including Lano Adesanya, ahead
of the 2015 general elections.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Zakari
said the commission received a “Category A intelligence” about a
meeting at Mrs Alison-Madueke’s house in December 2014 with the
bank’s Managing Director and some oil marketers.

According to Zakari, she told the bank chief that the oil
marketers would bring hard currencies to the bank, and that he
should keep the money until further directives.

The witness said Autus Integrated Limited took $17.8million to
the bank; Northern Belt Oil and Gas lodged $60million; while
Mid-Western Oil Services Limited paid $9.5million.

“An individual, Lano Adesanya, brought the sum of $1.8million.
Our findings further revealed that the three oil marketers made
payment of the sum of $89million and some fractions.

“Investigations further revealed that the then petroleum
minister’s aides made available $25million and some fractions in
suitcases…,” the witness said.

Zakari said Mrs Alison-Madueke directed the bank to convert the
dollars to naira, which was complied with, after which she
allegedly directed that the defendants be paid.

“They signed for the money and took it to the residence of the
first defendant (Akinjide). The defendants made cash payment of
N650million without going through any financial institution, an
amount which was more than the amount authorised by law to be paid
in cash,” Zakari said.

He said Akinjide and Adeseun “admitted making cash payments in
that amount.”

Defence counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Michael Lana
urged the court to expunge Zakari’s evidence because he did not
personally witness the meeting at Mrs Alison-Madueke’s house or the
cash withdrawal at the bank.

But, Oyedepo argued that Zakari’s evidence was not hearsay but
was based on his investigative findings.

“In view of the fact that the evidence that PW2 gave was the
discovery he made in the course of his investigation, the law is
settled that such evidence cannot amount to hearsay,” Oyedep
said.

Justice Hassan adjourned till March 23.