$8.4m Scam: yes! Court Registrar collected money from Bamaiyi in Prison- Prison Controller

An Assistant Controller of Prison , Mallam Abdulahi Garba, who is a prosecution witness  in the on-going trial of a Lagos court registrar, Mrs Rosulu Idowu Oluronke, has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, that Oluronke actually came to the prison to collect money from General Ishaya Bamaiyi. 

As trial resumed today, Garuba while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh, related how he met the defendant: “On October 23, 2004, Madam Ronke Rosulu came to visit Fred Ajudua. She was introduced to me by one Kehinde, who later introduced her as a Registrar of the High Court in Lagos. She sat with Fred Ajudua and General Bamayi, they had a meeting together that lasted for about 15 minutes

“On November 20, 2004, she came to the prison again with one Jonathan, one of the aides of Ajudua.  Later, General Bamayi came into the visiting room with a “Ghana Must Go” bag, red in colour, I asked him about the content of the bag and he said it contained money. I asked how much? He said $330,000, they are 33 bundles and each bundle contained $10,000.

“I asked the General what the money was meant for, and he explained that it was meant for the settlement of his lawyer's fees.  I said since it was his lawyer fees, I could not comment.  They counted the money in my presence, thereafter, they put it in the “Ghana must go bag” and Madam Ronke and Jonathan carried the bag containing the money away, each holding one handle of the bag as they left.  Ajudua saw them off to the gate”.

According to the witness, “On November 23, 2004, Madam Ronke came to visit  Ajudua for the third time; this time, she came with her daughter. She met with Ajudua and Bamayi; I was also there together with Kehinde".   Garba further explained that money is not kept in prison, that the money was brought in that day through the gate.

He made it clear  that Ajudua  and Ade Bendel did not any have record of visitors. Rather,  it was only special inmates like General Bamayi and four others that enjoyed such privilege. He also said that he identified the defendant at EFCC office in 2013, though he had not seen her for 9 years. “I identified her in an identification parade conducted by the EFCC", he said.

Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the matter to May, 11, 12 and 13, 2015 for continuation of trial.

It will be recalled that Ajudua and the defendant, were initially arranged by EFCC before Justice Ipaye, but the second defendant who is a public servant requested for separation of the charges and expedited trial.
 General Bamaiyi had earlier told the court, that Ajudua used Ms. Oluronke, who was then Justice Joseph Oyewole’s registrar, in defrauding him of $330,000.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

23^rd April, 2015