A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Wednesday how a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim allegedly bought a property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with about $2.3m cash concealed in a “Ghana-Must-Go” bag.
A prosecution witness, Abu Sule, who was cross-examined by Ohakim’s lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), said he collected $2.29m cash in “Ghana-Must-Go” bag from Ohakim, with which he assisted the former governor to buy a property in highbrow Asokoro area of the FCT.
He explained that Ohakim handed the $2.29m (an equivalent of N270m) to him in $100 bills at night sometimes in November 2008, for onward transfer to the then owner of the property, Alhaji Isah Maidabino, the next day.
Sule, an architect and Managing Director of Tweenex Consociates H.D Limited, said he kept the money in the boot of his car overnight before handing it over to Maidabino, now a director in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
“The money ($2.29m) was given to me by the defendant. It was given to me in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag and that was how I transported it. It was in $100 bills. I didn’t count the money and he (Ohakim) didn’t request for counting because we trusted each other. But I counted it along with Alhaji Maidabino.
“I did not issue a receipt because a receipt was not demanded. I was sent an errand and I delivered it.
“I carried the money to a bank in Maitama in Unity Bank. I handed over the money to Alhaji Maidabino at Unity Bank.
“Alhaji Maidabino issued deed of assignment and sale agreement to me. He did not acknowledge the receipt of the sum in writing.
“I didn’t pay the money into any account. I didn’t see Alhaji Maidabino pay that sum into any account. I did not witness any transaction.
“What Alhaji did with the money, I don’t know. But he handed over the title documents of the property to me,” Sule said.
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