According to a report by PM News on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, an investigator from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abubakar Madaki, testified before a Federal High Court in Lagos that former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), disguisedly provided former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose with N1.2 billion in cash.
Madaki, the 13th prosecution witness (PW 13), spoke during the ongoing trial of Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on charges of money laundering and stealing amounting to N6.9 billion.
Madaki testified before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. The EFCC's Lagos Zonal Command had re-arraigned Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on July 2, 2019, on an 11-count charge related to money laundering and theft totaling N6.9 billion. They were initially arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had previously informed the court that he was directed by Dasuki to transfer N1.2 billion to Fayose from an account designated as the Boko Haram Special Intervention Account. This amount was initially moved from the NSA's imprest account to the intervention account.
Madaki also contradicted Fayose's claim to the EFCC that the funds were a donation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s campaign. According to Madaki, investigations revealed the money originated from the NSA's office, budgeted for security equipment procurement.
During cross-examination by the second defendant's counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Madaki clarified that no relevant transaction occurred when Fayose personally handled it. He confirmed that his statements to the court were based on investigative findings and documents recovered during the probe.
Regarding "Eruka," a statement obtained during investigations, Madaki confirmed its existence but couldn't verify details about Abuja or the statements of a deceased individual as objected by the defense counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN. The judge ruled that Madaki must respond, whereupon he replied that he couldn't locate the pertinent details.
When questioned by the first defendant's counsel, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, Madaki affirmed that N4.6 billion was transferred by Dasuki to Sivan Macnamara. He clarified that this transfer was executed from the NSA's imprest account to Macnamara's Diamond Bank account. Madaki denied saying the funds were specifically transferred to the first defendant, asserting they were intended for him but delivered in cash to evade tracing.
The trial was adjourned to July 19, 2024, with further dates set for October 17 and 18, 2024, to continue proceedings.