By Ken Afor
Details have emerged in the ongoing case involving Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, former Head of Service (HoS) alongside other suspects of how they allegedly laundered and diverted over N3 billion to private companies.
In a statement issued by the EFCC, Oyo-Ita, the first defendant is facing criminal prosecution by the EFCC alongside her special assistants, Ugbong Okon Effiok (seventh defendant), Garba Umar (fourth defendant) and six companies: Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Limited, Slopes International Limited, U and U Global Services Ltd, Prince Mega Logistics Ltd and Good Deal Investments on 18-count charges bordering on misappropriation, official corruption, money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of over N3billion.
It would be recalled that Oyo-Ita was appointed in October 21, 2015 by the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari and she was removed from office February 29, 2020.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency stated that one of the prosecution witness, Hamma Adama Bello in the trial of case of the former Head of Service on Thursday, April 25, 2024 narrated before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how the defendant (Oyo-Ita) and her subordinates allegedly diverted public funds into their private companies.
The prosecution’s witness who testified under the guidance of counsels Faruk Abdullahi and H.M. Mohammed, alleged that the former Head of Civil Service, fraudulently awarded government contracts to herself through the fourth defendant, Umar.
According to the witness, Oyo-Ita used two companies, Slopes International Limited (the fifth defendant) and Good Deal Investments Limited (the sixth defendant), to facilitate this scheme.
Specifically, the witness stated that in February 2019, a transaction worth N42,748,201.47 (Forty-two million, Seven Hundred and Forty-eight Thousand, Two Hundred and One Naira, Forty-seven kobo) was paid into the Zenith Bank account of Good Deal Investment Ltd. The witness further alleged that Umar incorporated Good Deal Investments Limited with Oyo-Ita’s full knowledge and involvement.
The anti-graft agency quoting the witness saying: “We called for the account statements of these two companies, upon analyzing them, we realized he (Umar) was paid several sums of money from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing where he is an employee. And upon interviewing the fourth defendant, he admitted that he was also a contractor. He also admitted to have paid the first defendant on several occasions from the proceeds of the transaction.”
The prosecution’s witness further disclosed that on April 27, 2019, a transfer of N20,227,142 (Twenty Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-seven Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-two Naira) was made in the name of Ibrahim Madu to the Zenith Bank account of Asanaya Projects Ltd. The witness stated that the mandate card for this account bears the signature and photo of the seventh defendant, Effiok.
According to the statement, the investigation revealed that the seventh defendant, Effiok, incorporated Asanaya Projects Ltd in his name with the knowledge and involvement of the first defendant, Winifred Oyo-Ita. The witness alleged that approvals were granted, and payments were made to the seventh defendant either through his personal account or to the account of Asanaya Projects Ltd.
“The seventh defendant upon interview, confirmed he never travelled for most of the funds he received and that the first defendant was aware and benefitted on several occasions from the funds. The account of U and U Global Services Limited was also opened by the seventh defendant.
“In summary, from 2015 to 2018, U and U Global Limited received several payments in the form of Duty Tour Allowances and estacodes. Sometimes, payments from the federal government were made directly to the account, for instance, on March 24, 2016, he received N40,313,453.58 (Forty Million, Three Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Three Naira, Fifty-eight Kobo). This particular payment was from the federal government,” EFCC quoting the witness.
Further in his testimony, the witness stated that “Exhibit O is the Fidelity Bank account of Prince Mega Logistics Ltd. On March 27, 2018 and April 6, 2018, there were four entries, N4,950,000 (Four Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira); N3,946,000 (Three Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-six Thousand Naira); N4,676,000 (Four Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-six Thousand Naira) and N1,478,000 (One Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand Naira) from Thomson Titus Okure who used to be a colleague of the seventh defendant in the Account Department. There were also outward payments to Ignom, Minaro Blessing, Winifred Oyo-Ita, Olarenwaju Godman Olushola and the seventh defendant is the sole signatory of this account.”
Speaking further, the witness said: “I also want to add that we invited the first, second and seventh defendant at different times to our office and interviewed them. In the case of the first defendant, we printed chats from her phone and saw conversations she had with contractors, subordinates and permanent secretaries, she also voluntarily made a statement to the EFCC.”
The matter was adjourned till April 30, 2024.
