Amosu diverted NAF’s funds to build diagnostic center – EFCC

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Tosin Owobo, narrated on Wednesday how the anti-graft agency discovered a multi-million naira diagnostic centre established with funds allegedly looted by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), from the Nigerian Air Force.

According to Owobo, the diagnostic centre is located in the Ikeja area of Lagos. The investigator said this at the resumed trial of Amosu and 10 others for an alleged N22.8bn fraud before the Federal High Court in Lagos. Standing trial alongside Amosu are a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun; and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants diverted N22.8bn, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, using a number of companies.

The said companies were also joined as defendants in the charge.

They are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd., McAllan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd., Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd., Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd., Timsegg Investment Ltd., and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

The 11 defendants were arraigned before Justice Idris on June 29, 2016 but they pleaded not guilty to the 26 counts pressed against them.

Led in evidence on Wednesday by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, Owobo said his team’s investigation led to an account owned by Amosu and his wife in UBA in the name of Solomon Health Care.

“We discovered that is it a hospital and diagnostic centre located in Ikeja owned and operated by Amosu and his wife. Our team also visited the premises at 24, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja in Ikeja when they just started operations.

“Some equipment were just being installed by General Electric such as MRI scanners, X-Ray Machines and other sophisticated medical equipment,” he said.

Owobo, who had earlier testified that Amosu transferred N677m from NAF to Delfina Oil and Gas and others between March 2014 and April 2015, said Solomon Health Care was funded with money transferred from Delfina Oil and Gas.

Owobo said EFCC also had cause to investigate Timsegg Investment, which he said had Gbadebo as director.

“The accounts of Timsegg Investment received direct transfers from NAF accounts. Timsegg had accounts with UBA and FCMB. We wrote the banks, and we analysed their responses and made further discoveries,” Owobo said.

The investigator said Gbadebo transferred N12m from NAF Airmen Subsidy Account; N25m from NAF Airport Operation Account and N20m from NAF account on June 4, 2014.

According to him, N10m was transferred on July 4, 2014; N24m on July 30, 2014, N10m on August 29, 2014; N29m from NAF Jet Account on October 8, 2014; and N24m and N65m on October 8, 2014.

Others are N14m from NAF Operations account on October 31, 2014; N15m from NAF Jet Account on December 2, 2014; N20m from NAF Operations Account on May 5, 2015; N19m from NAF account on May 27, 2015; and N19m from NAF Operations Account on July 3, 2015.

The money, said the witness, were all transferred to Timsegg’s account.

“We discovered that most of the funds were being fixed on term basis. Upon expiration, cash withdrawals were made by Gbadebo. The funds were paid to him as his share from NAF and were for his personal use,” he said.

Owobo said a property on 40A Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, was discovered to belong to Adigun, the second defendant, which he said was acquired with money from Delfina Oil and Gas.

The judge will rule on Thursday (today) on an application by Oyedepo to visit some of the properties allegedly acquired by the defendants which cannot be brought to court as exhibit.

Punch