The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday closed its case in the ongoing trial of Aisha Wakil alias ‘Mama Boko Haram’ before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
Two witnesses, Geoffrey Okolorie (PW3) and Bashir Abubakar (PW4), were called before the prosecution closed its case.
Wakil is facing three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and obtaining the sum of N41, 777,750.00 by false pretence.
Others charged alongside her are Tahiru Daura and Lawal Shoyede, programme manager and country director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.
Mr Okolorie, a staff of the digital forensic unit of the EFCC, Abuja office, while giving evidence told the court that his unit received a letter alongside five mobile phones belonging to the defendants from the Maiduguri EFCC office, requesting that a digital forensic analysis be carried out on the mobile devices.
He said upon the receipt of the devices, a case file was opened and a number assigned.
Mr Abubakar, who is the complainant, told the court that he is a businessman at Gidan Madara, Maiduguri, and the chief executive officer of To-Day’s Super Store and Duty-Free respectively.
According to him, “On 5th May 2018, the programme manager of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, Tahiru Saidu Daura called and informed me that his NGO had a contract for the supply of 5 X-ray machines at the rate of N13m each.
“I was later informed by Tahiru that they have a reputable contractor who can execute the supply, hence I was given a ‘Letter of Introduction’ and ‘Authorization’ to transfer the money.
“Based on the letters I received, I transferred the sum N40m into Saidu Mukhtar’s UBA bank account from my Fidelity bank account on 16th May 2018.
“I was later informed to come and collect an acknowledgment letter for the money I transferred and expect my money after forty-five days”.
He further testified that he was not paid after the promised date despite repeated appeals to the first and second defendants to honour the promise they made to him. He said he was left with no other option than to report to the EFCC.
Justice Aisha Kumaliya adjourned till March 1, 2021, for the defendants to open their case and ordered further remand of all the defendants in Maiduguri Correctional Centre.
