The trial-within-trial of former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and four others took an intriguing turn as the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Hamza Abdullahi, revealed startling details. Abdullahi informed Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, that a substantial sum of N4.633 billion was traced to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited. The company's directors, including Bafarawa's son, Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa, and another individual identified as Nasir, were implicated in the transactions, with Sagir being the sole signatory to the company's bank account.
As the second-in-command of the Special Task Force, Fraud Investigation on Arms, Defence Equipment Procurement in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Abdullahi detailed the activities of 78 companies that received money from ONSA without justification, with Dalhatu Investment Limited being among them. He recounted that during the investigation, they traced the N4.633 billion payment to Dalhatu Investment Limited's account at the United Bank of Africa (UBA).
Abdullahi further stated that Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa was interviewed on November 25, 2015, and voluntarily provided his statement in the presence of the investigation team. He emphasized that no promises, threats, or inducements were made to Sagir during the process. Sagir, accompanied by his lawyer, was confronted with the evidence and later volunteered his written statement based on the evidence presented.
The witness also noted that Sagir promised to provide detailed analysis of the beneficiaries of the funds traced to his account and voluntarily provided the details, stating, "I have decided to make this statement without my lawyer. Attached here are the details signed by me." Justice Halilu adjourned the matter to May 22, 2024, for the defence to present their case in the trial-within-trial.
