An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Bello Umar, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how Olugbenga Obadina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Almond Projects Limited, received ₦2.1 billion from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), without executing any contract.

Umar, the first prosecution witness (PW1), testified before Justice James Omotosho while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel Ibrahim Buba.

He said the case formed part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of ₦33.2 billion meant for arms procurement during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Umar, investigations revealed that the payments to Obadina were made in six tranches into accounts domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Zenith Bank, all linked to the defendant and his company.

He told the court that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed it had no record of any contract awarded to Almond Projects Ltd.

“The total amount was ₦2.1 billion. The defendant could not show any tangible project executed,” Umar said, adding that a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) search confirmed Obadina as the company’s owner.

Documents tendered as exhibits included letters from the ONSA, bank statements, CAC documents, and the defendant’s extra-judicial statement.

However, defence counsel Adeola Adedipe (SAN) objected to the admissibility of some documents, arguing they were uncertified and that the defendant’s statement was not made voluntarily, citing alleged detention for 40 days.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho admitted the GTB and Zenith Bank statements, CAC documents, and an ONSA letter as exhibits but reserved ruling on another letter dated 5 May 2016 until 2 December.

Obadina, who was re-arraigned in January 2024, faces an eight-count charge of money laundering to the tune of ₦2.17 billion. He pleaded not guilty and was granted ₦500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.