Shamsudeen was re-arraigned on May 30, 2017, by the Federal Government on a 15-count charge before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
At the resumed trial on Thursday, Ishaya, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Ben Ikanni said he came to know about the 1st defendant (Samsudeen) in the cause of investigation against the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed.
The witness said it was in the cause of findings, that the EFCC received additional information concerning the change of properties by the defendants, adding that, “Intelligence report showed that the 1st defendant acquired several properties within FCT.
“The intelligence received showed that Samsudeen purchased properties using several companies.
“The companies include Diakin Telecommunications Ltd, Balvac Mining Nig Ltd, and Inter-trans Logistics Global Nig Ltd, which are all defendants in the instant suit.”
The witness said EFCC’s investigation was extended to Abuja Investment Development Company Ltd (AIDC), where the General Manager, Dr Musa, and company secretary, Salisu Abdulsalam, confirmed that the 1st defendant purchased properties from it.
“He bought two properties located at Apo area of Abuja from AIDC, he purchased another property located on No7 Gana Street Maitama, worth N210 million, which he paid cash in the company of a lady by name, Maimuna Sanda.
Another property purchased by the son of the former minister is at Sunrise Hill Estate, Asokoro, where he made cash lodgement of N80 million, for two plots of land to the then Managing Director of the company (Sam Abou Gaounde), a Lebanese.
The witness said the 1st defendant later, contracted A & K Construction Company Ltd to build the said property and added that the 1st defendant made a cash lodgement of N100 million to Sunrise Hill in error, but the money was later transferred to Zenith Bank account of A & K Construction Company.
Again, he made cash lodgement of N110 million as well as another N210 million and that all these lodgements were made in the name of a company known as Bird trust Agro-allied Ltd.
The witness said the last amount he made through cash lodgement to A & K was N296 million, disclosing also that, the defendant, at that time transferred all his interests to a company called Inter-trans Global Logistics Ltd.
After gathering this information from the defendant, he said a search warrant was secured which was executed in his house at No. 1 Embu street Wuse 2 Abuja.
“The 1st defendant was taken to our office where he voluntarily made statement under word of caution. An asset declaration form was given to him, which he duly filled,” he said.
Counsel to the 1st defendant, Chris Uche (SAN), deferred his cross-examination and the court, following the agreement of counsel in the matter, adjourned till December 11, 2017, for the continuation of trial.
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