Former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, today told an
Ikeja High Court how a court registrar, Ms. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke, aided
a serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, in defrauding him
of $330,000.
The
money according to Bamaiyi was meant for a part payment for
professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his
trail for attempted murder of the publisher of The Guardian, Alex Ibru
and two others.
Testifying before the presiding judge, Justice
Lateef Lawal-Akapo, Bamaiyi explained that he met Ajudua and Alumile
Adedeji a.k.a. Ade Bendel at Kirikiri maximum prison, while being
remanded there.
Led in-evidence by the prosecutor, Seidu Atteh,
Bamaiyi further told the court that Rosulu (defendant), who was then
Justice Oyewole’s registrar, visited him three times at Kirikiri maximum
prison in respect of the payment for Chief Babalola’s professional
fees.
“On November 23, 1999, I was in cell 5 (first floor) at
Kirikiri maximum prison. Later Ajudua and Ade Bendel were brought in at
the block. I and Ajudua were together in my cell, so we became friends.
Ajudua told me that he is a lawyer and has studied my case, and found
out it is purely a political one. Ajudua told me that he was interested
in the case and has sent his wife to see the Lagos Chief Judge (CJ),
Justice Ade Alabi (retired) and the state Attorney General (AG),
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, over the matter. I was told that the CJ was the
one in contact with Chief Babalola,” Bamaiyi stated.
According to
the retired army general, Ajudua later told him that based on the
advice of the CJ and AG, (Justice Alabi and Prof. Osinbajo) there was
need for the case to be handled by Chief Babalola who would facilitate
his release from prison custody.
He said: “I was told that Chief
Babalola charged $18million as professional fees. I was then told that
the money was to be paid through Justice Oyewole. Ajudua told me that
Justice Oyewole was going to send his registrar (Rosulu).
“On
October 23, 2004 (1st visit) the defendant, Rosulu, came with Ajudua at
the prison and confirmed to me that she was sent by Justice Oyewole. She
came with Ajudua to the visiting room, alongside a prison officer, ACP
Abdullahi Garuba.
“On November 6, 2004 at 10am, (2nd visit) the
defendant, Rosulu, came with Ajudua at the prison, alongside ACP Garuba.
This time she came with her daughter whom she said was from the
University. The defendant assured me that any money released through
Justice Oyewole would get to Chief Babalola.
“Before the
defendant’s 3rd visit on November 20, 2004, a friend of mine had
arranged $330,000 for me. The money was brought in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ to
the prison. I showed Ajudua the money and he said he will assign one
Jonathan to accompany us in counting the money. The money was counted in
the presence of the defendant (Rosulu) the prison officer (ACP
Garuba).”
The retired army general (Bamaiyi) maintained that after
counting the money, Rosulu carried the bag and Ajudua saw them off to
the gate.
“That evening, Ajudua told me that the defendant
(Rosulu) called and confirmed delivering the said money to Justice
Oyewole and same had been taken to Chief Babalola. I have never met her
again until December 19, 2013 at the Lagos office of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Not hearing from Chief Babalola
after a while, then Ajudua had travelled to India, I suspected that
something was wrong,”
He said he later reported the matter to the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and an investigation was
conducted on the matter.
Under cross examination by the
defendant’s lawyer, Bamidele Ogundele, Bamaiyi however noted that there
was no receipt for the money which he gave to the registrar.
He also said that he did not see the registrar for seven years after the alleged fraud.
Further trail on the matter continues tomorrow.
Source: PM News
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