A Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, in the trial of a former governor of Sokoto
State Attahiru Bafarawa, Kassim Yusuf,
on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, recounted before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High
Court, Abuja, that the former governor diverted a staggering N4.6billion he
received as security fund from the office of the former National Security
Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Bafarawa on amended 25-count
charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds to
the tune of N4.6billion. Other defendants in the case are, Bashir Yuguda,
Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Dalhatu
Investment Limited and Sagir Attahiru.
Yusuf, an officer of the
EFCC, who was led in evidence by
the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that
N4.6billion security funds received by Dalhatu Investment Limited from the
Office of the former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Colonel Dasuki were used
to sponsor Sokoto State indigenes on Muslim pilgrimage and finance Bafarawa’s 2015 presidency quest, as
well as offset his overseas mortgage, and acquisition of expensive vehicles
comprising Lexus, Toyota Hilux pickups and 16 Peugeot 206 cars for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP local
government chairmen in the state.
The PW2 further revealed that N1bn was given out from the sum
to about 10 Bureau De Change, BDC operators for conversion to dollars. “About
10 BDCs said Dalhatu Investment Limited sent somebody to collect the money and
about N800 million was transferred to Dalhatu Investment Ltd’s domiciliary
account to be converted to dollars. Funds were paid to a company called
Development Strategy International Ltd. The directors of the company are Islam
Wali and Muhammad Wali who are cousins to Ambassador Abdullahi Wali,” he said.
The witness further revealed that Ambassador Abdullahi Wali
received the sum of N5580million from Dalhatu Investment Ltd, which Bafarawa
released to him for his 2015 Sokoto State gubernatorial aspiration.
“The Lexus that was purchased was bought by Dalhatu
Investment for Abdullahi Wali’s election. Muazu Madawaki who received
N322million was also invited. He told the investigation team that the money was
for payment for Umra and Hajj allowances, hotel accommodation and flight
tickets for some Sokoto State pilgrims. Ahmed Yahya received N327million and
when he was invited he said the money was for political activities. He is the
personal assistant to Bafarawa. Ibrahim Maigana received N111million from
Dalhatu Investment for political activities in Sokoto State. He was the
Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at that time. One Musa Soba received
N85million on behalf of nine aspirants in the state for the House of
Representatives", he said.
The witness further informed the court that one Muhammad
Gambol supplied the Toyota Hilux pickups and 16 Peugeot 206 for the political
campaigns of Ambassador Wali.
"I recovered about 14 of those PDP local government chairmen's
cars. One Amanze Obi received the sum of N15.3million for political publicity
for Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa
Presidential campaign. About £123,000 (One Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand
Pounds) were transferred to the United Kingdom to offset a mortgage for Alhaji
Attahiru Bafarawa. We wrote back to the National Security Adviser, Major
General Muhammad Mungonu and he confirmed that the monies were simply diverted
without executing the project,” he said.
After listening to the testimony of the witness, Justice Halilu adjourned the matter till April 14, 2024 for continuation of trial.
