How ex-naval chief Jibrin acquired N600m property — Witness

A prosecution witness, Peter Oguebie, yesterday told an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama that a former Chief of Naval Staff, retired Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin purchased a property worth N600 million through a family company, Harbor Bay International Limited.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness, Oguebie, the Director of Petrus Ogu Nigeria Limited, the company that sold the property, said “payment for the property located at Plot No. 2717 Cadastral A06, Maitama, Abuja was made into an account, domiciled at Diamond bank, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja by Naval Engineering Services”.

He said all legal documents such as deed of assignment, power of attorney and sales agreement relating to the property were signed by him.

Jibrin is facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (all retired) and Harbor Bay International Limited on a 4-count charge of criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The naval chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house worth N600 million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without budgetary provision.

It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jibrin) became the buyer. The offence is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.

The trial judge, Justice Salisu Umar adjourned the matter to June 14 for ruling on the admissibility of documents (certified true copy of the budget of the Nigeria Navy for 2013 and 2014) tendered by a staff of the Budget Office of the Federation, Abdulkadir Idris Wakili.