N3B Fraud Rocks FG’s Commission, Ex-Head Of Service, Other Bigwigs Implicated

At the Federal High Court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its eighth witness, Hamma-Adama Bello, who disclosed that former Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, and others engaged in awarding contracts to companies they either incorporated or held stakes in.

Oyo-Ita and several others are facing trial for alleged fraud involving duty tour allowance, estacodes, conference fees, and kickbacks on contracts totaling N3 billion. The EFCC had arraigned Oyo-Ita, her Special Assistant, Ubong Effiok, Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Ltd, Garba Umar, Slopes International Ltd, Good Deal Investments Ltd, U&U Global Services Ltd, and Prince Mega Logistics Ltd in March 2020.

Hamma-Adama Bello, the Chief Superintendent of EFCC and Head of Special Investigation Team, testified that the team received intelligence in 2019 about the defendants using their positions to secure contracts for companies they were associated with. Bello stated, “The nature of the intelligence was such that the 1st and 7th defendants and a host of others were using their office to get contracts for companies they incorporated or had an interest in.”

He revealed that Oyo-Ita was the beneficial owner of Frontline Ace Global Services Limited and Asanaya Projects Ltd. The witness also highlighted the discovery of two accounts in a new generation bank linked to Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, which Oyo-Ita maintained.

The trial is adjourned until January 26 for further proceedings.