A prosecution witness, Ibrahim Mahe, has said that only retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), can explain the $40 million pipeline contract awarded to OnePlus Holdings Limited.
Mahe, the prosecution’s principal witness, made this known when he testified in a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.
He said that Azibaola Robert, cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, stated this while being cross examined by defence counsel, Mr Chris Uche (SAN).
The witness, who recently retired as permanent secretary, Special Services Operations, in the office of the NSA, told the court that he paid Oneplus $40 million.
He said the money was paid out of a $600 million special security fund sourced from the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC).
Mahe, who said he served for only eleven months in the office of the NSA; also admitted that some other firms got security contracts in excess of $40 million while others got for less.
He admitted that the office of the NSA maintained Naira, Dollar and Euro security accounts.
He said that prior to crediting the account of OnePlus with the $40 million; at least nine officials in the office of the NSA endorsed the payment warrant.
The witness said he paid OnePlus based on the conviction that the firm’s security contract met due process requirements as presented on the memo to him by the NSA.
Mahe said that the office of the NSA was not in the habit of advertising security contracts.
He said that for security reasons, certain security contracts could be given codenames.
The witness denied being part of any bidding process for the procurement of security gadgets.
He said that his responsibility only entailed disbursing monies already approved for security contracts.
Another prosecution witness, Olabode Farinuola, told the court that he received a letter from the EFCC to furnish them with account details of OnePlus Holding Ltd.
Farinuola, who said he was a Compliance officer with Zenith Bank, said this while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir.
“On Jan. 22, we received a letter from the EFCC on investigation activities on Oneplus holdings on the domiciliary account.
“They requested for account opening documentation, the statement of account and a certificate of identification.
“The bank responded on Jan. 29, forwarding the requested documents.”
The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the case till July 6, July 7, July 19 and Oct. 20 for cross examination of the second prosecution witness and continuation of trial.
Roberts and his wife Stella were arraigned by the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering totalling $40 million.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.