Money Laundering: Fayose Aide Agbele Authorised N1.2bn Transaction – Zenith Bank Manager
The Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) has arraigned Ekiti State Governor’s aide Abiodun Agbele along with three companies in an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The branch manager of Zenith Bank Akure, Alade-Oluseye Sunday, while giving his testimony on Monday as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Agbele told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court Abuja that he acted on the instructions of Agbele to pay money running into N1.2b into various accounts.
Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited were the recipient companies, while the amount allegedly laundered is put at about N1.2 billion.
Agbele pleaded not guilty to the charge contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).
At the resumed sitting, the witness told the court that the defendant gave instructions that the money should be transferred to various companies’ accounts listed in the charge.
The witness said he followed the defendant to Akure Airport to receive the money brought in two aircraft.
“The person I saw who brought the money to Agbele appears to be Musiliu Obanikoro. I recognized him from pictures of him I usually see on television because I never met him before.
“Agbele himself filled the deposit slips used to pay the money into the various companies’ accounts because he knows the accounts.
“On June 17, 2014, we paid N100 million into Spotless Investment Nigeria Limited. Then on June 18, 2014, we deposited N219, 490,000 into the De Privateer Company account.
“On June 19, 2014, we paid N300 million into the De Privateer Company’s account. We paid N200 million into the same company’s account on June 23, 2014.
“N137 million was deposited into Ayodele Fayose account on June 26, 2014. The remaining balance of N230 million was, however, taken to Ado-Ekiti on Agbele’s instruction,” the witness said.
Sunday also told the court that Agbele led the vehicles that conveyed the money to the bank.
It took Zenith Bank 10 days to finish counting money
The witness also said that it took the bank 10 days to finish counting and sorting the money after lodgement.
He said the bank locked the money in the strong room during the weekend when there’s no counting.
“The bank locked the money in the strong room when we were not counting. Only the Head of Operations, the Cashier and the Head teller hold the keys to the strong room.
“I never met the defendant prior to June 2014. I never had any financial dealings with him and I was never at any meeting with the defendant or the management of Zenith Bank,” the bank manager told the court.
Justice Dimgba adjourned continuation of cross examination of the witness in the matter until Nov. 17.
