ABUJA – An official of Zenith Bank Plc, Olabode
Farinuola, on Monday, told the Federal High
Court in Abuja that cousin to former President
Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibola, who is
facing trial over alleged $40million contract
scam, was a “high profile networth customer”
of the bank.



Farinuola who is a Compliance Manager at the
bank, insisted that the fund Azibola allegedly
received from office of the National Security
Adviser, NSA, through his company’s account,
Oneplus Holdings Limited, was inconsequential
considering the kind of transactions the firm
earlier conducted with the bank.


Azibola and his wife, Stella, are answering to a
seven-count criminal charge the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred
against them.

The bank official testified as the second
prosecution witness, PW-2.


While being cross-examined by counsel to the
defendants, Mr. Gordy Uche, SAN, the witness,
said the level of in-flow of cash into Oneplus
and its sister company, Kakatar CE Limited,
made Robert and his wife one of the biggest
customers of Zenith bank.


He told the court that the two companies have
several big construction projects cutting across
the country, especially in Abuja.


“They are net-worth accounts with Zenith Bank
Plc. The accounts are very busy as the
company is handling several high-profile
construction projects for the federal
government and its agencies”, he told the
court.


He further stated that he does not know the
purpose the $40m was paid into OnePlus
account by the ONSA, and the purpose to
which it was disbursed.
However, Farinuola maintained that the bank
complied with all regulations for opening a
corporate account for Oneplus Holdings under
the Know Your Customer, KYC, principle.


Asked by the defence counsel if, as a
compliance officer, the bank ever received any
complaint of any form of financial misconduct
from any law enforcement agency against the
defendants, the witness replied in the negative.


He said the only letter the bank got from EFCC
requested for information on the account
opening package of Oneplus Holdings.


“No other agency has written to question any
financial transaction by OnePlus Holdings”, he
stated.


It will be recalled that the witness had in his
earlier testimony on October 6, said he never
met any of the accused persons, nor had
anything to do with them or their companies.



Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus
Tahir, the witness said: “On January 22, 2016,
we received a letter from EFCC on investigation
activities on OnePlus Holdings Limited on the
domiciliary account requesting for the account
opening documentation, the statement of
account, and a certificate of identification,
which we accordingly forwarded to EFCC”.


Under cross examination on Monday, Mr.
Farinuola, reiterated that he has never met any
of the accused persons in life, and was meeting
them for the first time in court.


He said he only knew that Zenith bank
classified them as High Networth
Individuals,HNI, who were well respected by the
bank.


Meanwhile, trial Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has
adjourned further hearing on the matter till
Friday.


Justice Dimgba had in a ruling on June 8,
granted the defendants who are facing trial
alongside their firm, Oneplus Holding Limited,
bail to the tune of N1billion.


They were directed to deposit N500million
each, as well as produce two sureties in the
like sum.


The court held that the sureties must be
owners of landed properties in either Maitama
or Asokoro Ditrsicts of Abuja and must produce
evidence that they paid income tax for the past
three years.


The defendants were remanded in Kuje Prison
until they were able to perfect the bail terms.


Azibaola was docked with his wife after he had
spent 80 days in custody of the EFCC.


Meanwhile, charges against the defendants
attract punishment varying from 7 to 14 years
imprisonment upon conviction.


One of the charge against the defendants read:
“That you Azibaola Robert being the Managing
Director / Chief Executive Officer and a
signatory to the Zenith Bank account of One
Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Stella
Azibaola Robert, being a director and a
signatory to the account of One Plus Holdings
Nigeria Limited and Amobi Ogum( now at
large) on or about 8th September, 2014 in
Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court did conspire among yourselves to commit
an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the
sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary
account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited
with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750
from the account of ONSA with the Central
Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate Ref. No. 128/
S.5LX/139 purporting to be for the supply of
Tactical Communication Kits for Special
Services and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 8(a) of the Money
Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended
in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of
the same Act”.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/alleged-40m-contract-scam-jonathans-cousin-azibola-big-customer-witness/

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