N4.7bn Fraud: Ex-Aide Reveals How Ladoja Allegedly Gave Daughter £600,000 From State’s Coffers
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja yesterday spilled the beans when he told a Federal High Court in Lagos how the former governor allegedly sent £600,000 to his daughter, Bimpe, in London sometime in 2007 from money made from the sale of some shares belonging to Oyo State Government.
The witness, Adewale Atanda, a former Senior Special Executive Assistant, also told the court that the money was part of a sum of N634m, which the stockbrokers who was contracted to sell the shares contributed to Ladoja’s impeachment expenses.
Ladoja was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi on an amended eight count charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of funds belonging to Oyo State to their personal use.
Ladoja and Akanbi however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During yesterday proceeding, Atanda, who is the first prosecution witness said that Ladoja had earlier approved the sale of some shares belonging to Oyo State Government to the said stockbrokers who later contributed N634m to his impeachment expenses.
According to the witness, the N634m was part of the commission and profit realised by the stockbrokers from the sale of the shares.
Atanda also testified that the N634m was delivered to him by the stockbrokers, adding that he had to first remove about N180 million, which he had earlier borrowed and spent on Ladoja’s instructions during the heat of the impeachment saga.
He said, ” I used part of the N180 million to pay for the N80 million I obtained from Wema Bank Plc, which Ladoja used to purchase 22 vehicles for Oyo State lawmakers to prevent his impeachment.
“Another was a loan of N80 million which I obtained from Lagoon Savings and Loans Limited for the purpose of buying a property known as Quarters 361 for Ladoja, the property was earlier put up for sale by the Oyo State Government.
“Another was N13.8m which Ladoja used to buy two Land Cruiser vehicles for the state security personnel for his protection.
“Having deducted the N180m which I borrowed on Ladoja’s behalf, I distributed the balance of the N634m according to Ladoja’s instructions.
“Among the beneficiaries of the money was Bimpe, to whom I delivered £600,000 in £50 bills in London sometime in 2007,” the witness claimed.
Atanda further said Ladoja’s wife, Yinka, also got on different occasions sums of N20m, N19.5m and $13,000.
The witness said among the beneficiaries were lawyers including “Akintola and Olujinmi” who he claimed represented Ladoja in court.
When he was asked by the prosecutor, Oluwafemi Olabisi, of what circumstances the sum of £600,000 was paid to Bimpe Ladoja, Atanda said, “His Excellency wanted me to pay the money into his account but I had difficulty doing it. I told him and he said he would ask his daughter to contact me. She did and I gave her the money.
“The money was mostly in £50 notes; I put it in small suitcases and handed the money over to her in London. I think it was in 2007,” he stated.
Atanda also testified that the N20m he gave to Yinka Ladoja was probably what she had lend Ladoja during the impeachment heat.
He said, “On another occasion, they were conducting Local Government elections in the state. So, on the eve of the election, I think money was required to be distributed to all the local governments. I was in Lagos, she (Yinka) called me and said His Excellency said she should collect N19.5m.
“Then there was a time she was travelling and I was told to send $13,000 into her account,” Atanda stressed.
But during cross-examination by Ladoja’s counsel, Bolaji Onilenla, the witness stated neither Bimpe nor Ladoja gave him anything to acknowledge the payment of the £600,000 to Bimpe.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris has adjourned further proceedings in the matter till April 12 and 13, 2017.
The EFCC accused Ladoja and Akanbi of converting a sum of N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo State to their personal own, using a Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited.
The EFCC claimed that they retained the money sometime in 2007, despite their knowledge that it was proceeds of a criminal conduct.
