How contractors got N30bn and paid massive kickbacks to Sule Lamido’s accounts
– The EFCC brought more witnesses to court to testify against former governor of Jigawa state and his two sons
– The commission’s prosecution witness told the court that Lamido awarded contracts worth N30billion and received return of N1billion
– The prosecution witness told the court that the sum of N100million was paid into the bank account of Speeds International Limited, believed to be owned by Mustapha, a son of the ex-governor
Ex-governor Sule Lamido in one of his trial at the federal high court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented more witnesses to testify in the ongoing fraud case filed against the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, The Punch reports.
READ ALSO: Lamido’s son suspended as district head due to corruption
The anti-graft agency on April 11, presented more witnesses against the accused persons in the case presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a federal high court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The accused persons are standing trial for a 27 counts charge bordering on the abuse of office and money laundering.
An official of the EFCC, Micheal Wetkas, who was the prosecution witness, testified as PW18, saying the ex-governor, his sons, and associates received kickbacks. He also informed the court that investigations into the alleged fraud started in 2007 through to 2015.
“We discovered that Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which executed over 21 contracts (for the Jigawa State Government) totalling almost N30bn, had paid over N1bn into the accounts of Speeds International Limited and Bamaina Holding Company – both accounts whose sole signatory is Alhaji Sule Lamido,” he said.
According to the witness, N100million was credited into the bank account of Speeds International Limited, believed to be owned by Mustapha, a son of Lamido. He alleged that the sum was paid under the guise that it was earmarked for the payment of a subcontractor.
“Investigations also revealed that about N100m of third party cheques were cleared into the Access Bank Account of Speeds International Limited, where Mustapha Sule Lamido is a signatory.
“These revelations resulted in the invitation of the Managing Director of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, one Mr. Udo, to the commission, where Udo claimed that the monies paid were for sub-contracts awarded by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to the defendants’ companies for supplies of bitumen, diesel and steel iron rods – construction consumables used by the company.
“A close inspection of Dantata and Sawoe’s electronic records, physical books, financial statements, consumable journals, and waybills by the investigators and the forensic team revealed discrepancies which could not be explained,” Wetkas said.
The Punch reports that the EFCC arrested the two sons of the governor in November 2015, over alleged misappropriation of billions of naira belonging to the Jigawa state government.
READ ALSO: Former PDP governors plan to fight abandonment
Wilson Uwujaren, the head of media and publicity of the EFCC confirmed the arrest of the former governor and sons, saying: “I can confirm to you that the former Governor of Jigawa a State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his two sons are with the commission.”
The former governor was later arraigned alongside his children for receiving N1.35 billion kickback from a government contractor. The money was allegedly paid into accounts controlled by the governor and his sons. The commission is accusing the four suspects of money laundering, amongst other charges.
The post How contractors got N30bn and paid massive kickbacks to Sule Lamido’s accounts appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.