Prosecution witness, Micheal Wetkas, an operative of the EFCC, has revealed how Sule Lamido, his sons, and cohorts received kickbacks, while masquerading the same as proceeds for executed sub-contracts.
Lamido and his son are currently being prosecuted on a 27-count charge bordering on the abuse of office and money laundering.
Michael told the court that investigations into the alleged fraud started in 2007 through 2015.
“We discovered that Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which executed over 21 contracts totaling almost N30bn, had continuously paid over N1bn into the accounts of Speeds International Limited and Bamaina Holding Company – both accounts whose sole signatory is Alhaji Sule Lamido,” he said.
Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, according to Wetkas, was one of the contractors to the state.
“Investigations also revealed that about N100m of third party cheques were cleared into the Access Bank Account of Speeds International Limited, where the 3rd defendant (Mustapha Sule Lamido) is a signatory.
“These revelations resulted in the invitation of the managing director of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, one Mr Udo, to the commission, where Udo claimed that the monies paid were for sub-contracts awarded by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to the defendants’ companies for supplies of bitumen, diesel and steel iron wrought – construction consumables used by the company.
“A close inspection of Dantata and Sawoe’s electronic records, physical books, financial statements, consumable journals, and waybills by the investigators and the forensic team revealed discrepancies which could not be explained. In one of such cases, a forensic report revealed that entries dating back to between 2007 and 2013 were only entered into records in 2014-2015, long after EFCC investigations had commenced.’’
Wetkas added that “Upon further questioning, the 9th defendant, one Mr Bartholomew could not provide any evidence that the company had procured any items to execute the sub-contract.’’
Wetkas further told the court that one Interior Woodwork Limited was awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government for interior furnishings, and consequently made payments of N65.5m and N48m into accounts of the 3rd and 6th defendants’ accounts, respectively.