Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State, denied ownership of a property in the affluent Asokoro District and $2.29 million linked to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja (EFCC).
The choice property at 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street and the $2.29 million were traced back to Ohakim by the anti-graft agency as the result of fraud and kept hidden from public view.
However, in his self-defense against three counts of money laundering, Ohakim denied ever asking one Abu Sule, an EFCC witness, to purchase the property in his name.
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In addition, the former governor denied ever releasing $2.29 million in cash to the same person to purchase the Asokoro house.
Ohakim, who was led in evidence by his lead counsel, Awa Kalu SAN, claimed that he had never met the alleged Abu Sule and could not have given him the alleged sum.
The former governor, who began his defense against the charges leveled against him, told Justice Babatunde Quadiri that he had never seen $2 million in cash in his life.
Sule Abu, who had previously testified against him, told the Federal High Court how Ohakim invited him to the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro and handed him $2.29 million with a mandate to buy the Asokoro District property for him.
The EFCC witness also told the court that the transaction took place late at night when no one was present at the Governor’s Lodge.
However, Ohakim dismissed the EFCC witness’ testimony, stating that it is virtually impossible for any Governor’s Lodge to not have at least 50 visitors at any given time.
“My Lord, aside from the fact that I have never seen $2 million cash in my life, a serving governor cannot be alone.”
A serving governor must have his Personal Secretary, Special Adviser, and Aide De Camp ADC with him at all times in Governors’ Lodge, as well as a retinue of other security operatives from the Police, DSS, and Civil Defence.
Aside from security personnel, at any given time, at least 50 people will queue in Governors’ Lodge to see the governor. In any case, no one enters Governor’s Lodge unless they have been cleared by DSS, Police, and Civil Defence.
“There is no way any transaction could take place in the middle of the night if no one was inside the Governor’s Lodge.” “I find Sule Abu’s evidence against me too difficult to believe,” Ohakim insisted.
Ohakim, on the other hand, admitted to having a bank account with Fidelity Bank with the number 5010140626, which he used to purchase a N270 million house in Abuja’s Maitama District, as opposed to the Asokoro house traced to him by the EFCC.
Meanwhile, Justice Babatunde Quadiri has scheduled a hearing in the case for April 27 and 28.
Festus Ukpe represented the EFCC at the hearing on Wednesday.
The EFCC is charging Ohakim, the governor of Imo State from 2007 to 2011, with three counts of money laundering.
The prosecution accused Ohakim of paying $2.29 million in cash for the property at 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro District, Abuja in November 2008, which was said to be the dollar equivalent of N270 million.
Ohakim was also charged with failing to declare the property as part of his assets when the EFCC asked him to do so.