The trial of Robert Azibaola, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, for an alleged $40 million contract scam, continued on November 14, 2016 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its second witness, Olabode Farinuola, a Compliance Manager at the Maitama branch of Zenith Bank.


Robert and his wife, Stella, are standing trial on a 7-count charge involving an alleged $40 million contract scam, before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, the banker told the court, that he had never had any dealings with the defendants, and wasn’t the defendant’s account officer.

"On January 22, 2016, we received a letter from EFCC that investigation was being carried out on the domiciliary account of OnePlus Holdings Limited," he said.

He further told the court that based on the request, the compliance department of the bank, furnished the anti-graft agency with the account opening documentation, statement of account, and a certificate of identification, with respect to OnePlus.

While identifying the statement of accounts for OnePlus, he noted that he never checked them to know whether there were any huge inflows. According to him, the company’s accounts are very busy, because they handle “several high-profile construction projects for the federal government and its agencies”.

Under cross -examined by defence counsel, Goddy Uche, SAN, Farinuola, noted that the high flow of cash into OnePlus and its sister company, Kakatar CE Limited, made Azibaola and his wife one of the biggest customers of Zenith bank.


Justice Dimgba, thereafter adjourned to November 18, 2016 for continuation of trial.