Ex-Air chief got N6b from NAF funds, court told | Nairalaw

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that former
Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice
Marshal Jacob Adigun, admitted to have received N6billion from NAF
for his personal benefit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned
him along with former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu
and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore
Olugbenga Gbadebo.

EFCC said the three, on or about March 5, 2014 in Lagos,
conspired to convert N21,467,634,707.43, property of NAF, which sum
they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of
unlawful activities to wit: criminal breach of trust.

An EFCC investigator, Tosin Owobo, led in evidence by the
prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Adigun made
a statement at EFCC, which was tendered in court.

He said the second defendant disclosed in his statement that he
incorporated Delfina Oil and Gas, Hebron Housing Limited, Mcallam
Oil and Gas, Trapezites BDC Limited.

Owobo added: “He said he is the sole signatory to the accounts
of the companies.

“He said the names of the directors are all pseudonyms and not
names of any member of his family.

“In his statement, he wrote that out of about N16.9billion
inflow from the Nigeria Air Force related accounts into his
companies, he only benefited about N6billion

“He said the chief of Air Staff and others would account for
theirs.

“He also stated that the whole money was not shared, as some
jobs were executed.

“He further wrote in his statement that he would be willing to
let go of properties worth the sums of money he benefited.”

When asked to state how he came about Trapezites Bureau de
Change Limited and his findings, the witness said upon analysis of
Trapezites’ statement of accounts, it was discovered that about
N3.6billion was received from various NAF accounts.

They are NAF Jet A1 Training account, NAF Air Men Subsidy
account, NAF Special Emergency Operations account, HQ NAF Camp
Operations account, UCA NAF 37 Operations account and 106 NAF Camp
Training account.

The defendants were alleged to have made several transfers
amounting to N21billion to different companies charged with
them.

The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas
Ltd, Lebol Oil and Gas Ltd, Trapezites Bureau De Change, Hebron
Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd and
Timsegg Investment Ltd.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence which
EFCC said contravened Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section
15(3).

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned until April 15 and 16 for
continuation of trial.