Alleged $12m money laundering: EFCC’s witness confirms transfer of $3m to Aisha Achimugu’s firm

Achimugu

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s witness, Mr Trinity Usman, on Friday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received and transferred three million dollars into Mrs Aisha Achimugu’s company account.

Usman, the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), testified before Justice Emeka Nwite, led in evidence by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.

The PW-2, a Bureau De Change operator, spoke in the ongoing trial of Halima Buba, Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu, the Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer of the bank.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the duo are being prosecuted on money laundering offences to the tune of $12 million.

In a six-count charge, they were alleged to have aided high-value cash transactions without routing them through a financial institution.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(a), 2(1), and 9(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

The defendants were, on June 13, arraigned by the anti-graft agency.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and admitted to a N100 million bail with one surety, each in like sum.

At the resumed trial, the witness said he was in court to tell what he knew about the transactions he had with Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, owned by Achimugu.

Usman, who said he was a businessman and general contractor, said he was also into agro allied and oil business.

He said he carried out the businesses with companies or registered names.

He said his companies include Triple A and Tee Service Venture, T.M. Agro Allied Farm, Triple A and D Oil and Gas Ltd, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, among others.