Published 31st Jan, 2024

By Joseph Adeiye

A prosecution witness has told the High Court in Abuja how Attahiru Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State, diverted N4.6 billion from the office of Sambo Dasuki, Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser (NSA).

The witness, simply identified as Yusuf, testified before Justice Yusuf Halilu on Tuesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that it was prosecuting Bafarawa on amended 25-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds to the tune of N4.6 billion. Dasuki, Bashir Yuguda, Sagir Attahiru and Dalhatu Investment Limited are the other defendants.

Yusuf told the court that Dalhatu Investment Limited received N4.6 billion security funds from Dasuki’s office but the funds were used to offset Bafarawa’s overseas mortgage, finance his 2015 presidential bid, sponsor Sokoto State indigenes on Muslim pilgrimage and acquire expensive vehicles for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government chairmen in the state.

Yusuf also said that N800 million was sent to 10 bureau de change (BDC) operators for conversion to dollars.

“About 10 BDCs said Dalhatu Investment Limited sent somebody to collect the money and about N800 million was transferred to Dalhatu Investment Ltd’s domiciliary account to be converted to dollars,” Yusuf testified

“Funds were paid to a company called Development Strategy International Ltd. The directors of the company are Islam Wali and Muhammad Wali, who are cousins of Ambassador Abdullahi Wali.

“The Lexus that was purchased was bought by Dalhatu Investment for Abdullahi Wali’s election. Muazu Madawaki, who received N322 million, was also invited. He told the investigation team that the money was for payment for Umra and Hajj allowances, hotel accommodation and flight tickets for some Sokoto State pilgrims. Ahmed Yahya received N327 million, and when he was invited, he said the money was for political activities. He is the personal assistant to Bafarawa.

“Ibrahim Maigana received N111 million from Dalhatu Investment for political activities in Sokoto State. He was the chairman of the PDP at that time. One Musa Soba received N85 million on behalf of nine aspirants in the state for the House of Representatives.”

Yusuf stood as a witness due to his working capacity as an EFCC agent.

He told the court that Muhammad Gambol supplied the Toyota Hilux pickups and 16 Peugeot 206 for the political campaigns of Wali. The EFCC had recovered some of the vehicles in question.

“I recovered about 14 of those PDP local government chairmen’s cars. One Amanze Obi received the sum of N15.3 million for political publicity for Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa’s presidential campaign. About £123,000 was transferred to the United Kingdom to offset a mortgage for Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. We wrote back to the National Security Adviser, Major General Muhammad Mungonu, and he confirmed that the monies were simply diverted without executing the project,” Yusuf said.

Justice Halilu adjourned the matter until April 14.

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