EFCC’s witness: I paid $3m into Aisha Achimugu’s company’s account

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Trinity Usman, on Friday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received and transferred three million dollars into the account of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, a company owned by Aisha Achimugu.

Usman, the second prosecution witness, disclosed this before Justice Emeka Nwite while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).

The witness, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, was testifying in the ongoing trial of the Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, Halima Buba, and the bank’s Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer, Innocent Mbagwu.

The duo are facing a six-count charge bordering on money laundering involving $12 million.

They were accused of facilitating large cash transactions without passing them through a financial institution — an offence contrary to Sections 21(a), 2(1), and 9(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

The EFCC arraigned the defendants on June 13, after which they pleaded not guilty and were granted N100 million bail each with one surety in like sum.

Testifying on Friday, Usman said he was in court to explain his involvement in the transactions with Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd.

He identified himself as a businessman and general contractor engaged in agro-allied and oil businesses under various companies, including Triple A and Tee Service Venture, T.M. Agro Allied Farm, and Triple A and D Oil and Gas Ltd.

“Sometimes in April 2025, one Suleiman Ciroma contacted me, saying he needed $3 million transferred to Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd. I had the funds in my company account, Triple A and Tee Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited,” he said.

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According to him, Ciroma delivered the cash to him, after which he paid the equivalent amount in dollars into Oceangate’s account in four tranches.

When asked by the EFCC counsel if he knew the defendants, Usman said he did not.

“I’ve never met them before,” the witness told the court.

He also clarified that his BDC company, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, did not handle the transaction as its licence had been suspended at the time. Instead, he used his oil and gas company’s account to make the transfer.

During cross-examination, Buba’s counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), asked the witness to confirm if his BDC business was still operational.

Usman replied in the affirmative, stating that the company later received an approval-in-principle from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to resume operations.

The witness also admitted that he made profits from the transaction but never informed the defendants that his BDC licence had been suspended or that he used his oil and gas account for the payment.

Counsel to the second defendant, M.S. Ibrahim (SAN), asked if the witness informed Buba or Mbagwu of the transaction details. Usman said he did not.

After cross-examination, Justice Nwite discharged the witness and adjourned the case to December 10 and 11 for continuation of trial.

The Star