Witness denies link to Ohakim’s $2.29m spent on mansion

A witness, Scott Tommey, on Thursday before a Federal High Court in Abuja denied link to the cash sum of $2.29m which a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, allegedly used to buy a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja in 2014.

Tommey, a businessman based in Port Harcourt, admitted buying a piece of land in Maitama, Abuja, from Ohakim in 2012, but insisted that he made payment for the purchase neither in naira nor in dollars cash, but through bank transfer.



The testimony of the witness is contrary to Ohakim’s claim in one of his statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, marked, ‘Exhibit EFCC 3’ that he (Ohakim) bought the mansion in Asokoro partly with the dollars equivalent of N250m allegedly paid in cash to him by Tommey.

But the testifying as the sixth prosecution witness on Thursday, Tommey said Ohakim’s claim in the said statement was untrue.

“It is totally false that he (the defendant) claimed that I paid him in US dollars. I paid through fund transfer. I never paid in cash. It was through funds transfer,” he said.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ohakim who was Imo State Governor between 2007 and 2011 on three counts of money laundering.

The charges arose from his alleged purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29 which was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.

Ohakim was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.

The prosecution said the offences bordering on cash payment of N270m violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

Tommey, who was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Festus Keyamo, gave details of how he was introduced to Ohakim and how the transaction of purchase of the Maitama land was executed.

Tommey said he met the defendant just once, but know him as the former governor of Imo State.

“He had a property in Maitama, which was up for sale. And I was in search of a property to develope. I had an agent, who got the property, which was the former governor’s land.

“The agent introduced me to him sometime in 2012.

“I met him and we agreed to a total cost of N250m, which was paid to him through my bank. I paid for the property through bank transfer From Sterling to Fidelity Bank. I paid in naira.”

Earlier, the prosecution called two witnesses – an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. O. O Ewhe, and an operative of EFCC, Nura Ali Barko.

While, Ewhe tendered the exchange rate of naira to dollar when Ohakim allegedly bought the house at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, the EFCC operative, Barko, gave account of how the investigation was conducted.

Ewhe said, as of November 14, 2008 when the transaction took place, the exchange rate to the dollars was N116.57.00. He added that it was the same rate on the previous day.

Kalu did not cross-examine Ewhe.

Barko, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, said he knew the defendant in the course of investigation carried out sometime in 2012.

At the conclusion of the 6th witness’ testimony, Keyamo announced to the court the conclusion of the prosecution’s case.

Defence counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN) informed the court that his client, in line with the provision of Section 308 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, intends to make a no-case submission.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola has adjourned till June 6 for adoption of the written submissions in support and against the no-case submission.