How Ex-PDP Chair, Haliru, Son Got N300m —Witness

STELLA George, a witness in the ongoing trial of Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, told Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that there was an inflow N300 million from the Office of National Security Adviser to the account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by the accused.
George, a banker with Sterling Bank, while being led in evidence by counsel for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs, stated that on March 18, 2015, a sum of N137, 200,000 was transferred to Kumu Golo Limited and another transfer of N178,800,000 was made to North Polo Global Services same day.



According to her, the Certified True Copies (CTC) of account opening package, mandate card and statement of account from January 2015 to date of BAM Projects and Property Limited, as well as copies of instruments used for inflow and outflow from the account were all made available to EFCC on request.

Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Solomon Umoh, George said although she was obliged to know her customers, especially the account owner, but she did not know anything about the companies who received the money under reference.
The former PDP chief was being prosecuted alongside his son, Bello Abba Mohammed, on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the EFCC.
It will be recalled that the first prosecution witness, Rouqayya Ibrahim, an operative of the commission, had, in his evidence on February 16, stated that a payment of N300 million was made in two tranches to the accused company’s account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited from the funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of the former National Security Adviser.
The case was adjourned till May 18, for continuation of trial.
Tribune