Former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, allegedly misappropriated the sum of N382.9 million while he served as the chairman of a presidential committee.

This was disclosed by an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Hammanadama Bello, while testifying before an Abuja federal high court.

Bello noted that the former head of service of got funds under the guise of the Presidential Committee of Financial Action Task Force but he later converted the money to personal use.

Bello, who is the sixth prosecution witness in the trail against Oronsaye, told the court that, “For example, a certain Sunday Ogie, a detail to the defendant from the Department of State Services made about 31 cash withdrawals and most of them were N150,000, with some few exceptions. In all he withdrew about N30m within the same period.”

“Investigation revealed that all cash withdrawals made by the said Ogie were handed over to the defendant. He (Oronsaye) also admitted receiving the money. Another fellow, Friday Ololo was also seen making withdrawals severally to the tune of about N17m. The defendant admitted that the same cash was handed to him.”

“All efforts to get Friday Ololo through the defendant, and explanation from the defendant as to what he did with the cash ended with promises from the defendant to supply the investigators with all documents, which he did not do.”

Bello further said that Oronsaye got the money from the two government agencies: the Central Bank of Nigeria and the office of the National Security Adviser.

Oronsaye, without informing members of the committee he led, funnelled the monies into his secret account domiciled with Access Bank of Nigeria.

“Again, the defendant (Oronsaye) forwarded a request for more funding, but suggested to then President Goodluck Jonathan that the regulatory agencies, like the CBN, the Security and Exchange Commission, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and others, who will, in turn be the beneficiaries of the committee’s work, should be made to fund the activities of the committee. The defendant failed to mention to the President the fact that he had already received some funds from the CBN.”

“The then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was asked to advise the President. Investigation revealed that she clearly disagreed with the position of the defendant and advised that the committee should be funded from the Presidency, while the remnant of their request be forwarded to the Budget Office.”

The case was adjourned by the trial judge till June 28 for further hearing.

Mazi Emeka