The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called Sahibu Salisu, a former Director of Administration and Finance, to testify in the ongoing trial of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Fayose, who served as governor from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2014 to 2018, is facing an 11-count charge of money laundering and theft amounting to N6.9 billion. The charges were brought by the EFCC's Lagos Zonal Command following his tenure as governor. He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, with the case later reassigned to Justice Chukujekwu Aneke.
On Friday, Salisu, the 14th prosecution witness, testified about payments totaling N2.2 billion made to a firm named Sylvan MacNamara on the orders of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired). Salisu revealed that the payments, which included N200 million and N2 billion, were ostensibly for security purposes.
"Based on credible intelligence, we swung into action and arrested three suspects at the crime scene with large quantities of illegally refined AGO already stored inside metallic drums while others were inside cellophane bags," Salisu explained.
The arrested suspects, all women, were identified as Happiness Nwankwo, 45; Nnoma Nwankwo, 30; and Favour Amadi, all from Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Sunday by CSC Babawale Afolabi, Public Relations Officer at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja, it was revealed that the arrests were made possible through sustained intelligence about an illegal oil refinery at the crime scene.
Salisu detailed the payment process during his testimony. "Once the NSA gave approval for payment, we processed it accordingly. The payments we made were mainly for operational activities," he stated. He explained that the payments were intended for security infrastructure, but he could not confirm if the funds were ever properly accounted for, stating, "Up till I left the office, I could not say whether or not the money was retired."
When shown Exhibit S, the payment voucher for the N200 million, Salisu confirmed it was raised on the NSA's instruction. He added that he signed as Signatory B and then took it to the NSA for final approval before proceeding to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payment. He also identified Exhibit S1, which detailed the N2 billion payment to Sylvan MacNamara, made on June 13, 2014.
Under cross-examination by Ola Olanipekun, SAN, counsel for the first defendant, Salisu confirmed that all NSA office payments were made through the bank and required a raised mandate. He acknowledged his familiarity with financial regulations, explaining that recipients of funds were expected to provide receipts and memos for fund retirement.
Olanipekun also sought the court's permission for his client, Fayose, to travel abroad for medical reasons, a request unopposed by the prosecution. Justice Aneke granted the request, allowing Fayose to seek medical treatment abroad.
The trial has been adjourned to October 18, 2024, for continuation.
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