The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today revealed in the court that the sum of N150m from N714m allocated for public sensitization by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs was traced to Abdulrahman Yusuf and KT Turaki & Co., the law firm belonging to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), the former minister of the ministry.
The EFCC 25th prosecution witness, Hamma’Adama Bello, stated this during the court proceedings in the ongoing corruption trial of the ex-minister.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, M.S Abubakar, Bello told the court that the second defendant received payment through Samtee Essentials and Pasco Investment, adding that “the second defendant showed that he received money from Minister of Labour, while the first defendant was supervising minister in the sum of N150 million and transferred to Abdulrahman Yusuf and KT Turaki & Co”.
The witness told the court that the sum of N359, 104,000 was approved for sensitization and enlightenment of Muslim youths against hate speech and religious intolerance.
On January 12, 2015, Turaki wrote a letter to the Minister of Finance for the release of the said money. Four days later, precisely on January 19, 2015, the money was paid to the Special Duties Ministry.
Once the money hit the account of the ministry, it was disbursed through officials, with some of the funds being traced back to the first defendant and his wife.
Bello told the court that the Director Finance and Account revealed that the funds were “controlled by the first defendant”.
He narrated how some of the funds were disbursed based on instructions.
According to him, a total of N75million was transferred to one Abdullahi Bagudu in two tranches of N45m and N30m from the Zenith Bank account of the Ministry of Special Duties.
The witness stated that while examining the inflows into the account of the first defendant’s wife, Halima Tanimu Turaki on January 23, 2015, investigators spotted a transfer of N20million from Abdullahi Bagudu that is believed to be from the N45m which he received from the Ministry.
The case has been adjourned to February 18, 2021 for continuation of trial.
