A second prosecution witness, Mr. Abu Sule, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that he collected $2.29m cash in ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag from former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, to help the ex-governor buy a property in Asokoro, Abuja. Sule, who is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s second prosecution witness in Ohakim’s ongoing trial, said this while being cross-examined by Ohakim’s lead counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN). During the cross-examination on Wednesday, Sule said, “The money ($2.29m) was given to me by the defendant. It was given to me in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag and that was how I transported it. It was in $100 bills. I didn’t count the money and he (Ohakim) didn’t request for counting because we trusted each other. But I counted it along with Alhaji Maidabino.
“I did not issue a receipt because a receipt was not demanded. I was sent on an errand and I delivered it. I carried the money to a bank in Maitama in Unity Bank. I handed over the money to Alhaji Maidabino at Unity Bank. Alhaji Maidabino issued deed of assignment and sale agreement to me. He did not acknowledge the receipt of the sum in writing. I didn’t pay the money into any account. I didn’t see Alhaji Maidabino pay that sum into any account. I did not witness any transaction. What Alhaji did with the money, I don’t know. But he handed over the title documents of the property to me. I gave the money to him (Maidabino) and he gave me the title documents. He signed the sales agreement and I believe that was a good receipt.” The EFCC called Maidabino as its third prosecution witness on Wednesday and he confirmed that he sold the property to Tweenex through Sule sometimes in November 2008.
