Alleged N25 Billion Agric loan: EFCC lied against Goje ―Prosecution Witness

As the N25 billion money laundry case against Senator Danjuma Goje continues at the Federal High Court Jos, Plateau State, a Prosecution Witness (PW) from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated that N1 billion Agricultural Loan facility issued to Gombe State in 2010 has been repaid.

Mrs Yetunde Ofili, Principal Manager, CBN Development and Finance Department, who appeared as PW 18 in the N25 billion money laundering case against Sen Danjuma Goje, said the loan was obtained through Union Bank Plc and has since been repaid to the apex bank.

EFCC alleged that Goje and three other principal officers in his then administration conspired to defraud the state of about N25 billion via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.

The anti-graft agency had in its claims, accused Goje’s administration of diverting the N1 billion loan and not using it for the purpose it was obtained in 2010.

But, when the case came up for hearing before the presiding Judge, Justice Babatunde Quadiri, Ofili told the court during a re-examination by the Prosecution counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu, said, “from my understanding, the Gombe followed the CBN guidelines in obtaining and utilizing the facility.’’

“What l know is that if there is any change in the utilization of the facility, the go-between commercial bank must notify CBN of the change before the facility is released, that which they did via an e-mail message.

“So, when the Union Bank wrote to us we obliged them and the loan facility was release to the state in compliance with the Commercial Banking Credit Scheme Guidelines.’’

When Shittu asked for her to produce the e-mail letter permitting the change in the usage, the PW said she was not asked to bring it along, “so I don’t have it here with me but if want it I will do that.’’

At this stage, Shittu asked the court to adjourn the case to enable her bring the produce the e-mail letter in the next adjourn date,

But the defence counsel, Mr Paul Orokoro (SAN), opposed the application on the ground that EFCC being the prosecution agency should have done that seven years ago and not now.

“My Lord, what the prosecution counsel was trying to do is to draw us back for what they failed to do a long time ago and we should allow this kind of delaying to continue.

“What is in that e-mail that has to do with the defendants, because the person involved here is Union bank; I don’t know what he (Shittu) is trying to arrive  at with this? Orokoro queried.

It was at this point that Ofili told the court that “for the purpose of clearance, that loan facility has been repaid, so whatever it was used for at the end, all we know is that our money has been repaid.’’

Ofili explained that in sometimes in November 2010, Union bank wrote to them that Gombe state government had written to it for change of usage of the facility following a letter dated Nov. 2, 2010 from the Agriculture Commission, Late Mallam David Albashi.

“They claimed the money will be used for settling unpaid fertilizer bill for that year since the facility came late after the raining season, which was to give to farmers for seedlings, Pesticides and others, ’’ she said.

But the Prosecution Counsel insisted that the e-mail be brought for the purpose of clarification that due process and guidelines were properly followed.

Orokoro however concurred and but that the prosecution witness be discharged since any person could bring the e-mail from the CBN beside her.

The Judge then discharged and witness and adjourned the case to Nov. 21 and 22, 2017 for continuation of hearing of the case.