Alleged N587.7m graud: ‘I bought $9.8m from ECOWAS staff’, BDC operator tells Court

The trial of Mohammed Dangana, a staff of the Economic Community
of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission continued on December
16, 2019 before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja
with the third witness, Adedeji Jide Adelabu, a bureau de change
operator telling the court that he purchased dollars to the tune of
$9.8 million from the defendant.

Dangana, an executive assistant to the Financial Controller,
ECOWAS Commission Secretariat Abuja, is under prosecution by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 15-count
charge, bordering on criminal diversion of funds, misappropriation
and money laundering to the tune of over N587.7million.

According to Adelabu all the naira payments made for the
purchase of the estimated $9.8 million were done at the agreed
rates to the various accounts provided by the defendant, adding the
payments were dully confirmed received as instructed, with the
dollar proceeds given to them accordingly.

The witness gave details of some of the transactions involving
the defendant to the tune of $1 million on June 30, 2016 and
another transaction of $1 million on July 4, 2019 at the prevailing
rate of N347 to a dollar.

Adelabu added that other transactions were done afterwards and
that in total, an approximate sum of $9.8 million was purchased and
all payments were made as directed by the defendant.

When asked about his relationship with Cactus Facility
Management Company, into which several millions were paid , he said
he had no relationship outside the instructions given to make
payments to the account.

The witness told the court that payments were made into various
accounts, including Dashad & Co, Rite Option Ventures Ltd,
Crossgains Trading and Investment Ltd, Cactus Facility Management
Company, Saldano Chambers, ECOWAS account and others.

The matter was adjourned until December 17, 2019 for
continuation of trial.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!