“The issue of N53.6m and N204mthat left Plateau State Govt Account Represents reimbursement
of my a/c for which I had used my a/c to Procure equipments mostly from Ms Julius Berger which
were being auction for the use of our Direct Labour Agency and there is evidence for this
approval and Payment. Since these Equipments were going on Auction, I thought acting this way
will not only Sustain the Vision of the Direct Labour Agency; but it was a Cost Savings to the
State.”
“As per our Letter dated 29.03.01, this confirms the Procurements of Earth Moving Equipment for
N204Million and N53.6m for the Direct Labour Agency. The domiciliation to AllStates Trust Bank
is just for the clearing of my a/c for which funds have been Utilised for these Payments and
Procurements.
Items procured as per approval are: -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Qty
CAT Bulldozer
D8H
1
CAT Bulldozer
D6H
2
CAT Bulldozer
D146
3
Excavator
D235B
4
Wheel Loader
966D
4
Duetz Compressor SL40 DS-1
3
Duetz Roller
D412
3
Duetz Dumper
D3475
3
Tipper Trucks
M Benz
10
Tipper Trucks
10W MAN
5
Parker Pickup
Mercedes
3
Peugeot
504SR
3
Peugeot
505 Saloon
4
Tipper Truck
Mercedes 6W 3
Delivery Truck
from Kaduna and
Abuja
35, 000, 000
N15M
10M
15M
14M
4M
4.5M
N4.5
N3.5
N3M
N1.5M
2.5M
2.3M
3.2
35, 000, 000
30, 000, 000
30, 000, 000
45, 000, 000
56, 000, 000
12, 000, 000
13, 000, 000
13, 000, 000
35, 000, 000
15, 000, 000
4, 500, 000
7, 500, 000
9, 200, 000
9, 600, 000
3, 217, 250
Total Approval 319, 017, 250
It can be seen that the Total reached by the Defendant as approved is not the Same Total as the Total
Sum of Two Hundred and Four Million Naira (N204, 000, 000) and the Sum of Fifty Three Million, Six
Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Three Naira, Five Kobo (N53, 600, 643.05), which is the
Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Six Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Three
Naira, Five Kobo (N257, 600, 643.5).
However, it can be seen that the Defendant has directly stated that the Purpose for the Payments of
these Sums into Ebenezer Retnan Ventures Account, was to serve as a Reimbursement for using his
own Money to Purchase the Equipment for the Direct Labour Agency.
This does not qualify as a Virement and since there was NO urgency explained, as to why he used his
Own Funds in the first place, it can therefore be seen as a Loan the Defendant granted to his State.
To Support his Contention, the Defendant called for Supporting Evidence from his witnesses. Before
this Court is Exhibit D20, a Witness Summons dated the 13th of October 2016 with an Appearance
176