Witness Says Only Dasuki Can Explain $40m Pipeline Contract Awarded to Jonathan’s Cousin

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Alhaji ibrahim Mahe, a witness in the ongoing trial of Barr. Azibaola Robert, cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that only detained former National Security Adviser (NSA)‎, Col. Sambo Dasuki could explain why OnePlus Holdings Limited got a $40 million pipeline security contract.

Mahe, who recently retired as Permanent Secretary, Special Services Operations (SSO) in the NSA’s office, told the court that he paid Oneplus $40 million out of the $600 million special security fund sourced from the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC).

Under cross-examination by counsel to Roberts, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Mahe, who admitted serving only eleven months in the ONSA, also admitted that some other firms got security contracts in excess of $40 million approved for OnePlus.

The retired permanent secretary, however, failed to tell the court ‎presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba the names of the companies that benefited from the remaining $560 million of the special security fund.

He admitted that the ONSA maintained Naira, Dollar and Euro security accounts.
Also under cross examination, Mahe admitted that prior to crediting the account of OnePlus‎ with the $40 million, at least nine officials in the office of the NSA minuted on the payment warrant.

The retired permanent secretary said he paid OnePlus based on the conviction that the firm’s security contract met due process requirements, having been endorsed by nine top officials of the ONSA.

Mahe told the court that the ONSA was not in the habit of advertising security contracts, also admitting that for security purposes, certain security contracts could be given codenames.
He denied being part of any bidding process for the procurement of security gadgets, saying ‎his responsibility only entailed disbursing monies already approved for security contracts.

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