In the ongoing trial within the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Second Prosecution Witness (2PW), Hamza Abdullahi, revealed startling details regarding the alleged involvement of former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and four others in an arms deal scandal.
Testifying before Justice Y. Halilu on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Abdullahi disclosed that a substantial sum of N4.633 billion was traced to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited, where Bafarawa’s son, Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa, and another individual identified simply as Nasir, served as directors. Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa was the sole signatory to the company’s bank account.
Abdullahi, who served as the second-in-command of the Special Task Force on Fraud Investigation on Arms and Defence Equipment Procurement in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2015, detailed the scrutiny of 78 companies suspected of receiving funds from ONSA without proper justification. Dalhatu Investment Limited emerged among these companies.
“In our investigation, we discovered that N4.633 billion was deposited into Dalhatu Investment Limited’s account at United Bank of Africa (UBA), with Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa as the sole signatory,” testified Abdullahi.
Furthermore, Abdullahi affirmed that Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa was interviewed by the investigation team on November 25, 2015, during which he voluntarily provided statements. The witness clarified that no promises, threats, or inducements were made to the defendant during the process.
“Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa was accompanied by his lawyer during the interview. He was presented with the evidence we had gathered, and subsequently, he voluntarily provided written statements,” Abdullahi stated.
The witness also revealed that Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa pledged to furnish the investigation team with a detailed analysis of the beneficiaries of the funds traced to his account, which he willingly provided without the presence of his lawyer.
Following Abdullahi’s testimony, Justice Halilu adjourned the proceedings until May 22, 2024, allowing the defence an opportunity to present their case in the trial within the trial.
