N6.9bn Fraud: Zenith Bank Manager Tells Court How He Received N1.2bn For Fayose

A manager with the Akure, Ondo State branch of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Sunday Alade, today, narrated before a Federal High Court, Lagos, how the sum of N1.2 billion was allegedly moved to his branch in 2014.

Alade, who was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 11th witness in the trial of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayo Fayose, gave the vivid account of how the money was moved into his bank while being led-in-evidence by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

Fayose alongside his company, spotless Limited, are standing trial before Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun led-court on 11 count charges bordering on conspiracy, gratification, criminal breach of public trust/stealing and money laundering to the tune of N6.9 billion.

The EFCC had called 10 witnesses in the trial and also tendered several documents which have been admitted by the court.

At the resumed trial of the former Governor today, the witness in his evidence said: “On the 17th of June 2014, I was in my office in Zenith Bank, Akure. I received a call from my head of operations Abiodun  Oshodi that a customer would be coming to make deposit into his account with the bank.

“He said in order to provide security, we should arrange for van bullion to go to the airport to pick the cash.

“After an hour, my head Abiodun Oshodi came and said the customer had arrived. He introduced Abiodun Agbele as the customer.

“He said we should prepare to go to the airport. I asked for time to arrange for security, but they said that won’t be necessary as they had sufficient security.  They came with MOPOL and some soldiers in a Hilux,” Alade said.

The witness said he joined Oshodi and Agbele to the airport, along with the bullion van and the security men.

Continuing, the witness said: “at the airport, we waited for a few minutes before the arrival of the aircraft. Three individuals came out of the aircraft.

“Two of them walked away. The remaining person introduced himself as O. Adewale. The cash was offloaded into the bullion van and we drove to Zenith Bank Akure”.

He also told the court that when they arrived at the bank, the money was counted his presence. He said Oshodi, Adewale and Agbele were also present.

“The money was counted. It was N724million. We were informed that there was a balance. We went back to the airport and picked N494million the second time.

“The total cash amounted to N1.219 billion. Another aircraft brought the N494million. I gathered that the cash was lodged into three bank accounts – those of De-Privateer, Spotless Investment and Ayodele Fayose.

“I also understand some cash was taken away that day by Mr Agbele.”

Asked who Adewale was, he said: “Adewale O. introduced himself as Obanikoro’s ADC.”

Asked if he knew those who walked away from the aircraft when it landed, the witness said: “One of the resembled Obanikoro. I never met him in person. But he resembled the person I saw on television and newspapers”.

Under cross examination by defence counsel Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness said he was not aware of where the money came from.

Asked if he knew what the money was meant for, he said: “Not at all”. Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned till May 10 and 14.