The trial of Azibaola Robert commenced on Tuesday at a Federal High Court in Abuja with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bringing forward its first prosecution witness, Ibrahim Mahe.

Azibaola Robert happenes to be a cousin to the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mahe, a retired permanent secretary, who began his testimony on Tuesday, narrated how $40 million was transferred by him to ‘One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited’, a company owned by Robert.

Azibaola and his wife, Stella, are standing trial for seven count charges bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption – before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

Being led into evidence by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, Mahe told the court that he never knew Robert and his wife personally but he knew the company, One Plus Holdings through a transaction.

The witness said on August 20, 2014, Dasuki told him to pay $40m into the account of One Plus Holdings for an unknown reason.

“On August 20, 2014, the National Security Adviser endorsed a memo to me which originated from the Office of the Director of Finance and Administration of the ONSA detailing the bank details of one company called ‘One Plus’ and the purpose for which the company was to be paid a sum of $40m.”

“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and I prepared the payment mandate for the $40m in favour of ‘One Plus’ for the signature of the NSA. I sent it to the NSA, he signed and sent it back to me and subsequent action was for me to counter-sign the mandate and then send it to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payment.”

Mahe’s job as a permanent secretary, special services, in the office of the secretary to the government of the Federation involves matters relating to finances of the entire intelligence community which included the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and ONSA.

According to him, the permanent secretary, Special Security Office oversees the coordination of the annual budget of the members of the intelligence community.

“After formulating the budget, the Accountant General releases the funds of the intelligence community through an account that is domiciled in the Special Security Office from where it is distributed to the various end users.”

“When funds get into the account, the NSA is informed of the arrival of the funds and proposal on the distribution to the various agencies is made to him. When he approves, the monies are sent to the end users.”

The judge adjourned the case till July 4 and 5, 2016 for continuation of trial.