Musa Omale, a witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) paid N12 million into a bank account of the judge of the Federal High Court.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness, Omale, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd.
He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.
“In the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko.
“He gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1million each into my bank account.
“Tahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive.
“The instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.
“No services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account,” Musa said.
The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency.
“I was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements.
“I was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me ‘when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing?
“At that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction,” Musa said.
However, while being cross – examined by the lead defence counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred.
Clarke said, “In the face of the statement of account that you’re holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money?
“You work with the NCS which is a para – military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions.
“The spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything?’’
Responding to Clarke’s questions, Musa said “The statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction.
“I was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and I’m not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth.
“I was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements.”
Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for continuation of trial.
Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Mr Godwin Obla, SAN, a former prosecutor of the EFCC.
The duo are jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.