EFCC to modify Bello, son charges after fresh discovery

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to amend a four-count charge on which a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son, Abba, are currently being tried after discovering a separate N300 million lodgment in their company’s account.

Bello, his son, and their firm – BAM Project and Property Limited were arraigned on charges of money laundering relating to the N300 million they allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

At the continuation of proceedings on Tuesday, a prosecution witness, Rouqayyat Ibrahim, resumed her testimony and disclosed that investigation has further revealed that Bello received another N300 million from ONSA in two tranches of N150 million each.

She said the two transactions which were allegedly carried out on February 27, 2015 were not captured in the four charges filed against the accused persons.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Ibrahim said the newly discovered N300 million was transferred to BAM Project and Properties Limited from the account of Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited on the instruction of the then Minister for State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.

She said before the discovery of the N300 million payment, Jabbamer was under investigation for receiving N1.5 billion from ONSA.

“The analysis of the statement of account of BAM Project with Sterling Bank revealed that the account received a total of N300 million in two tranches of N150 million each on February 27, 2015. On that day (February 27, 2015), transfers of N150 million and another N150 million were made into the account of BAM Projects with Sterling Bank.

“Before then, we already investigated Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited on a different matter. We discovered that Jabbamer Ada Global Services Limited was a bureau de change firm and that the company received payments of a little over N1.5 billion from ONSA. The company also received payments from the Nigerian Air Force and the Accountant General of the Federation’s office and several other sources,” she stated.

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