The trial of Willie Obiano, the immediate former governor of Anambra State, resumed Wednesday with the Federal High Court in Abuja admitting multiple bank statements as evidence against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, presented the bank documents on the same day that it called four additional witnesses, one of whom was Alhaji Ayuba Tanko Abdullahi, a Bureau De Change Operator, who described how money was transferred from the Anambra state treasury into his company’s account.
The BDC operator, who was called as the fifth prosecution witness, informed the court that the money received in Naira was typically converted into dollars and given to Obiano’s aide.
According to the witness, he collected N416 million from an account run by the Anambra state government in just eight months.
He told the court that the cash, which were delivered to him in tranches, were changed into foreign currency totaling $1.137 million and handed over to accused former governor agents.
The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, stated that the EFCC did not interrogate him about the transactions till 2023.
He explained: “I am a dealer. I trade forex. I deal in USD, Euros, and Pound Sterling.
“I also source for customers and take them to other BDCs and do exchange and collect my commission.”
The witness told the court that he conducted the transactions through two companies: Sauki Bureau De Change and Zigaziga Trading Company Limited.
“Between April 2017 to December 2017, the total money I received at that period was N416m and I gave back the dollar equivalent which was $1, 137, 000.00,” the employee stated.
During cross-examination, the BDC operator admitted that he had no direct dealings with the former governor.
Trial Justice Inyang Ekwo admitted a bundle of documents that contained bank statements of the BDC companies in evidence and marked them as exhibits.
Meanwhile, shortly after Alhaji Abdullahi’s release, three bankers who handled accounts for the Anambra state government took turns mounting their witness box.
Mr. Jeremiah Nnamdim, PW-6, provided bank statements for Connought International Services Limited, which allegedly siphoned cash from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account.
The witness informed the court that on February 16, 2018, there was an inflow of approximately N473 million into the account, as well as five payments of N30 million and another N23 million.
The PW-8, Ms. Iwu Onyinyechi, who is equally a banker, narrated how funds labelled as “MC payment,” were transferred into the account of another firm she identified as S. Y. Panda Enterprises.
She disclosed that whereas N58m was paid into the account on October 30, 2018, another N36m was also paid in on November 13, 2018.
However, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till February 24, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
