Addario Michael, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Investigating Officer, on Tuesday, alleged that N2.2 billion was spent by the Federal Government on prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, to win the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria,
Michael was giving evidence as to the first Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, NSA, to President Goodluck Jonathan, in the alleged $2 billion arms deal fraud.
Others charged with Dasuki, are a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Aminu Baba-kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The EFCC charged them with 32 counts bordering on misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, dishonest release, and receiving various sums of money, before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf.
Led in evidence by the EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Micheal said that N750 million was allegedly transferred from the Office of the NSA, ONSA, special account to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account with First Bank.
He added that N650 million was also transferred to Acacia Holding Limited’s account with EcoBank, while another N600 million and N200 million were transferred to the company’s account with UBA.
His words: “Between September 27, 2013, and April 16, 2015, N50 million was credited to Reliance Referral Hospital’s account.
“Based on responses from the Banks involved, as Investigating Officer, we found out that money was transferred to several individuals and companies.
When we went through the account statement, we asked the second Defendant (Aminu Babakusa) the reason for this.
He informed us that the money was used to hire Clerics to pray for the nation as regards the Boko Haram crisis.
“When we asked him to provide the names, contacts, and phone numbers of the Clerics he hired to pray for the nation, he mentioned only two.”
After listening to the testimony, Justice Baba-Yusuf adjourned the matter to November 11, for the continuation of the hearing.
More news later…
