How Bishop Oyedepo’s Church, Others Shared N19.7billion NIMASA Largess, Witness

Seven companies and Bishop David Oyedepo’s church have been accused of conspiring to defraud the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of N19.7billion.

A Federal High Court in Lagos today heard how the largess was shared as contract money without executing any project.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Mr. Ahidjo Nkem, gave graphic details of how the Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, established by Oyedepo, received N35 million from Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, a former Commander of joint Task Force (JTF), who is facing trial on alleged N19.7billion fraud.

The former JTF commander was charged alongside the former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, as well as two other persons for the alleged fraud.

Nkem told Justice Ayokunle Faji, at the resumed trial of the accused persons on Friday, how his five companies became the conduit pipe used by Major-General Atewe in laundering N4, 915, 163, 104 from JTF’s account.

While being led-in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Ikem said he came in contact with the former JTF Commander at the Villa Church where they both worshipped when the JTF Commander was Guard Brigade Commander.

He said sometimes between July and September 2014, Major-General Atewe became the JTF Commander, invited him to Balyesa State and told him that he had been given a contract by the Federal Government for maintenance of security and building of Barracks.

He said that Atewe asked him if he (witness) had a company, he should supply it, as the money for the contract would be paid into the company’s account.

He further stated that he supplied the JTF Commander the names of all his five companies, with the bank details and the addresses.

Nkem informed the court that his Companies had no contractual agreement with JTF; neither was he a registered contractor nor supplied any goods or rendered any service to JTF.

The witness told the Court that the JTF Commander later invited him to Balyesa State again and told him that the money was about coming to his account. He added that once he received that money, he (the witness) should inform him.

He stated further that two to three days after his visit to Balyesa State, he started receiving alerts, and when he called the JTF Commander, he told him to hold on that he was coming to Abuja.

He said that when Major-General Atewe came to Abuja, he joined him at Niger Barracks, where he was introduced to Kime Engonzu (the third accused person). He was then instructed that any money he received should be handed over to Kime.

Nkem, who is the first prosecution witness in the matter said, the total money he received was N4. 915, 163, 104, which he changed to $21,500,000 USD, from a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, named Jimoh, and handed it over to Kime, who in turn carried out the order of the JTF Commander.

The witness also told the Court that he collected the sum of $950, 000 USD from one Chijioke, who is also a good friend of Major-General Atewe. He said that he gave it to the third accused person, Kime.

The witness said the sum of N4.1billion was converted to United State Dollars, out of the sum of N4, 915, 163, 103. And the remaining balance was given to some companies and a Church on the orders of Major-General Atewe.

He added that the sum of N35 million was paid to Living Faith Church; the sum of N103 million was paid to INP Limited; N107 million to First Investment Limited, while Lord Firm limited, Ocean Gas, and Sisco Nobort were paid the sum of N99 million, N88 million and N297million respectively.

When asked by the prosecutor the reason for paying the companies and the church the money, the witness said they were paid on the orders of the Major-General, and that no reason was giving.

Also charged are Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga, on an amended 22-count charge bordering on the alleged offences.

Nkem’s companies charged alongside the accused persons are: Jaggan Limited, Jaggan Trading Company Limited, Jaggan Global Services Limited, Al-Nald Limited, and Paper Warehouse Limited,

Others are: Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited and De-Newlink Integrated Services Limited.

The witness said he was invited by the EFCC and he wrote four statements in the course of the Investigation of the matter.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, adjourned the matter till March 21, 22 and 23, when Akpolobokemi complained of health challenges mid way into the trial.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N19.7 billion using the seven companies.

The EFCC alleged that the accused committed the fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

The offence contravened the provisions of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

It also contravened the provisions of Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

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