THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has presented its first witness against Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as ‘Mama Boko Haram’ before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
She is facing a fresh three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, inducement, and obtaining by false pretense to the tune of N41 million.
Recall that Mama Boko Haram was arraigned alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede, Programme Manager and Country Director, respectively, of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization.
One of the counts reads: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (non-governmental organization) sometimes in June 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Hajia Bilkisu Mohammed Abubakar of Ihasan Vendor Services, to deliver to you; house furniture, electronics, and food items worth N34,593,000.00 (thirty-four million five hundred and ninety-three thousand nairas) only under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of the said items to Complete Care and Aid Foundation (non-governmental organization) and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 320 (a) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
At the resumed trial of the alleged N41, 777,750.00 fraud, the prosecution called its first witness, Bilkisu Abubakar, who was allegedly induced by the defendants to execute over N41m supply contract for Complete Care and Aid Foundation, owned by Wakil, but refused to pay.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, the PW1 narrated how supplies contracts were awarded to her by Mama Boko Haram and Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura, the chief executive officer and program manager respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation and Complete Care respectively.
According to the witness: “I worked as a volunteer in the organization for two years during which I was engaged to make supplies of beverages and toiletries to the NGO and later to the home of Wakil, even though I told them I was not a contractor.
“I supplied to Complete Care and Aid Foundation office two sets of televisions, two sets of telecom, nine stabilizers, thirteen extension wires, cutleries, three electronic kettles, two gas cylinders, toiletries, beverages, bottled water, among others for 13 months.
“I was also buying lunch for Wakil and her daughter, one Khadija Alkali, for four months. I was asked by Wakil and Daura to write down whatever item I supplied to them. Subsequently, I also furnished the house of Wakil based on a request by her; I supplied everything in the house”.
The PW1 further told the court that: “I supplied one Italian bed, a complete set of show glass, two center tables, one Italian dining table, and one cushion chair to her husband. She also asked me to supply four beds, five big mattresses, and sixteen pillows to be used by her husband and children.
“I also supplied food flasks, electronics, gas cooker, one deep freezer, two industrial fans, four rechargeable fans, three sets of bedside carpets to Aisha Alkali Wakil, her husband, and children. I supplied ten ready-made clothes and ten veils as well.
“Wakil also directed me to transfer money to one Ekechukwu Modo to buy her foodstuff from Enugu. I transferred money in five tranches to Modo’s First Bank account and to one Harira in Malaysia for the purchase of an Arabian gown. My lord, during the naming ceremony of Wakil’s grandchild, I supplied all the things needed to the tune of N1.5million.”
Abubakar further revealed that Mama Boko Haram, after much pleading paid the sum of N10m into her account for every item supplied and services rendered but refused to pay the balance of N31.7m.
The prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed tendered the Letter of Award of Contract for the supplies, Store Certification, Notification of Delay in Payment, Letter of Introduction, and Authorization for the transfer of N1.5million which were all admitted in evidence by the court. Forty different receipts issued to Bilkisu, tellers, and handwritten documents of items bought by the vendor were also admitted in evidence.
Justice Kumaliya, after listening to the testimony of the PW1, ordered that the proceedings recorded by the court be transmitted to the defendants for study and cross-examination of the prosecution witness due to the absence of their counsel.
Consequently, Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till February 15, 2021, for cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
