Jibrin is
facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu
(all retired) and Habor Bay International Limited on a 4-count charge of
criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Peter
Oguebie, managing director, Petrus Ogu Nigeria Limited, who is also a witness
in the trial of a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, on
Monday, May 22, 2017 told Justice A. S. Umar of the Federal Capital Territory
High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that his company sold a property worth
N600million to the former naval chief through a family company, Harbor Bay
International Limited.
Jibrin is
facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu
(all retired) and Habor Bay International Limited on a 4-count charge of
criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Accoding to saharareporters; The naval
chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house worth N600million from the
account of Naval Engineering Services without budgetary provision.
It was also
alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was
done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant
(Vice Admiral Jibrin) became the buyer.
The offense
is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4)
of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.
At the
resumed trial today, Oguebie, who was led in evidence by counsel to EFCC Faruk
Abdallah, as PW3, stated that, “payment for the property located at Plot No.
2717 Cadastral A06, Maitama, Abjua was made into our company account, Petrus
Ogu Nigeria Limited, domiciled at Diamond bank, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja by Naval
Engineering Services”.
He said:
“all legal documents such as deed of assignment, power of attorney and sales
agreement relating to the property were signed by me”
Justice Umar
had earlier admitted in evidence, the power of attorney, sales agreement and
deed of assignment as exhibits 1a, 1b and 1c, respectively.
Also
testifying, Abdulkadir Idris Wakili, a staff with the budget office of the federation,
who had earlier been subpoenaed with respect to the certification of budget of
the Nigeria Navy said, “I was in court to present the certified true copy of
the budget of the Nigerian Navy for 2013 and 2014”.
The
prosecution sought to tender the documents in evidence, but Jibrin’s counsel,
Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, objected on the grounds that, “the same documents earlier
tendered by the prosecution and rejected by the court for non-certification
are being re-presented again ”.
Responding,
Abdallah urged the court to discountenance Maikyau’s submission saying, “the
issues are not the same”.
According to
him, “There are two sets of documents: one is from the Navy forwarding their
budget estimate, whereas, my Lord, the document sought to be tendered is a
document approved by the National Assembly”.
In
compliance with Section 106 (b) of the Evidence Act, Abdallah added that, the
prosecution had listed a staff of the budget office as a witness in the proof
of evidence.
At this point,
Justice Umar adjourned to June 14, 2017 for ruling on the admissibility of the
document.
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