Governor Ohakim was the Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011 and is facing charges over the misuse of public funds and corruption during his tenure. Yesterday, one of his business associates, Abu Sule, told a Federal High Court in Abuja how he helped the ex-governor to conceal the ownership of a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, which Ohakim bought for $2.29m in November 2008.
Mr Sule was the managing director of Tweenex Consociates, the company which Governor Ohakim allegedly used to conceal his ownership of the property. Governor Ohakim is facing three counts of money laundering arising from his alleged purchase of the House 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No. 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, with a cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.
In addition, he is also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so. According to the prosecution, the offences, related to a cash payment of N270m, violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
According to Mr Sule, who is the second prosecution witness in the case, the former governor instructed him to use his company Tweenex Consociates, to buy the property. In addition, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel Festus Keyamo, Mr Sule who described Governor Ohakim as his senior friend and benefactor, said the former governor put pressure on him to prepare a tenancy agreement in order to conceal the true ownership of the house.
Mr Sule added: "Before November 2008, he requested that I buy him a house in Asokoro. When we found one for him at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street in Asokoro, we told him and he trusted my judgment on it.
"I told him the price was N270m and he provided me with the money about $2.29m or thereabout in cash. I collected the money from him at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro at night in cash in one tranche and he said that I should use it to pay for the house at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro."
Giving further evidence before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Mr Sule added that after perfecting the purchase, his company renovated the house for one and a half years. He pointed out that after the renovation, they then handed over the house to the former governor.
He added that the N20m given to his company by Governor Ohakim purportedly for payment of rent was actually meant for the renovation of another house belonging to the former governor in Asokoro. Sales agreements, deeds of assignment along with the tenancy agreement and cheques issued by Governor Ohakim with respect to the property were tendered and admitted by the court as exhibits.
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