Witness - How Oronsaye operated secret account for presidential committee

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Hammanadama Bello, told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja how a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, allegedly converted to his personal use the sum N382.9m belonging to a presidential committee he headed.

Bello, who was testifying as the sixth prosecution witness in Oronsaye’s ongoing trial, accused the former Head of Service of sourcing the diverted funds in the name of the Presidential Committee of Financial Action Task Force.

He said Oronsaye allegedly disguised his operation of the Access Bank account by using  his personal aides, who made withdrawals on his behalf.

The witness said, “For example, a certain Sunday Ogie, a detail to the defendant from the Department of State Services made about 31 cash withdrawals and most of them were N150,000, with some few exceptions. In all he withdrew about N30m within the same period.

“Investigation revealed that all cash withdrawals made by the said Ogie were handed over to the defendant. He (Oronsaye) also admitted receiving the money. Another fellow, Friday Ololo was also seen making withdrawals severally to the tune of about N17m. The defendant admitted that the same cash was handed to him.

“All efforts to get Friday Ololo through the defendant, and explanation from the defendant as to what he did with the cash ended with promises from the defendant to supply the investigators with all documents, which he did not do.”

He alleged that Oronsaye sourced the money from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the office of the NSA in the name of the PCFATF and deposited it in a secret account with Access Bank Plc, without the knowledge of other members of the committee.

He told the court how a former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, advised the then President Goodluck Jonathan against Oronsaye’s suggestion  to direct some government agencies to fund the activities of the PCFATF.

The EFCC operative, who was led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Offen Uket, told the court presided by Justice Olasunbo Goodluck that Oronsaye allegedly made false representation to some government agencies, from which he got funds which he converted to personal use.

He said, “Again, the defendant (Oronsaye) forwarded a request for more funding, but suggested to then President Goodluck Jonathan that the regulatory agencies, like the CBN, the Security and Exchange Commission, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and others, who will, in turn be the beneficiaries of the committee’s work, should be made to fund the activities of the committee. The defendant failed to mention to the President the fact that he had already received some funds from the CBN.

“The then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was asked to advise the President. “Investigation revealed that she clearly disagreed with the position of the defendant and advised that the committee should be funded from the Presidency, while the remnant of their request be forwarded to the Budget Office.”

The prosecution alleged that Oronsaye sourced about N382.9m from the CBN and the office of the NSA in the name of the PCFATF and deposited it in a secret account with Access Bank Plc, without the knowledge of other members of the committee.

Oronsaye was said to have invested the money at between 9 and 9.5 per cent interest rate in the said secret account which he allegedly opened and operated unilaterally as the sole signatory, without the knowledge of other members of committee.

By his alleged acts Oronsaye is said to have committed offences contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act.

Testifying on Monday, Bello said Oronsaye made request for additional funding from the CBN, without the knowledge of members of his committee, even when there was no need for such additional funds.

The witness, who said investigation also revealed that the account Oronsaye allegedly opened secretly in Access Bank, and into which he paid funds from others sources other than the Presidency, was operated by him and his personal aides.

The witness said when investigators asked Oronsaye what he did with funds in the Access Bank account, he said N12m was used to fund another committee he headed – the Rationalisation Committee.

He said upon inquiry from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation investigators were told that the Rationalisation Committee was a separate body from the PCFATF, with separate sources of funding.

Oronsaye’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), opposed the attempt by the prosecution to tended the letter from the SGF.

Justice Goodluck in a ruling on the admissibility of the document upheld Agabi’s objection to it and rejected it.

The case was adjourned till June 28 for further trial.