OWOLOLA ADEBOLA
The trial of former Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, continued on Monday before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission presenting its first witness.
Olejeme is facing a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering to the tune of over N1.3bn
She was first arraigned on October 21, 2021.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Sir Steve Odiase, presented the first prosecuting witness Salihu Dantsoho Sadiq, a Bureau de Change operator.
The witness narrated how he met Henry Sambo, an employee of the NSITF who is in charge.
Sadiq told the court that sometime in 2014 at First Bank, Abuja, Sambo approached him and requested for foreign exchange.
“He transferred the money into my account the same day the transaction started and the transaction involved hundreds of millions in about eight to 10 tranches. He did not know my office, but he normally sent his driver for the transaction,” he stated.
Under cross-examination, the defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) asked the witness if he knew the defendant, and what the dollars were requested for. He replied: no; adding that Sambo did not tell him the purpose.
Erokoro also asked whether the transaction followed CBN guidelines for forex, warning that if it did not, he would report the transaction to the authorities. The witness answered in the affirmative.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Odiase told the court that the prosecution had pre-trial with six witnesses who were expected to be in court to testify but, because of the fire incident at Kubwa which involved some of their relatives, they couldn’t make it to court.
He, however, disclosed that among the six, one was in court and two others were on their way.
He, therefore, requested the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution to present the other witnesses.
Justice Aliyu adjourned the matter till November 29, 2021 for the continuation of trial.