Alleged N1.35bn fraud: EFCC witness tenders more evidences against Ex-Gov Lamido

A prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas, on Thursday, narrated before a Federal High Court in Abuja how the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido allegedly diverted funds meant for projects in the state to his private use through a company, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.

During proceedings in the matter yesterday the prosecution witness, who is also an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), prosecuting the former governor on behalf of the federal government revealed how Lamido’s companies, Speeds International Limited and Bamaina Holding Company, received several payments running into hundreds of millions into their bank accounts via cheques raised by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company between 2007 and 2013.

Wetkas who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar told the court that there were payments through cheques for N7,408,000 and 7,425,000 from the bank account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company in favour of Bamaina Holding Company on March 5, 2013.

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He further revealed that on April 23, 2013, there were two cheques of N7,228,900 from a bank account that were raised in favour of Speeds International Limited which was paid.

The witness further told the court that a sum of N9,450,000 was paid to Speeds International Limited on October 19, 2010, as well as several payments that were made from the accounts of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to the companies, owned allegedly owned by Lamido.

The witness tendered the payment cheques as exhibits before the court.

The trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu adjourned the matter until April 27, 2020, for the continuation of trial.

The anti-graft agency had re-arraigned Lamido, his two sons: Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido and others on an amended 43-count charge for allegedly defrauding the state to the tune of N1.35billion.

Lamido and his codefendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.