A former Governor of Imo State has been exposed after a witness gave graphic account how the ex-Governor gave him $2.29m cash to hide.
A witness, Mr. Abu Sule has revealed how a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim gave him $2.29m to hide.
He told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that he collected the sum of $2.29m cash in a Ghana-Must-Go bag from a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, to help the former governor to buy a property in highbrow Asokoro, Abuja.
The man who is the second prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission while under cross-examination by the former governor’s lead counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN) made the shocking revelation.
He revealed further details saying that he collected the $2.29m from Ohakim in $100 bills at night sometimes in November 2008 and handed it over to the then owner of the property, Alhaji Isah Maidabino, the next day.
Sule revealed how he helped Ohakim buy and conceal the former governor's properties. He also said that the former governor instructed him to use his (Sule’s) company, Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd, to buy the property.
He further revealed that Ohakim pressured him into preparing a tenancy agreement with Tweenex as the landlord to make it look as if he (Ohakim) was a tenant in the property.
The witness, an architect and Managing Director of Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd, said he kept the money in the boot of his car overnight before handing it over to Maidabino, now a director in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ohakim who was Imo State Governor between 2007 and 2011 on three counts of money laundering.
The charges arose from his alleged purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29 which was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.
The EFCC also accused him of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.
The prosecution said the offences bordering on cash payment of N270m violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
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