Million depending on the need as it arose. In the case of my Dispensation
Memos are always raised and cash transferred to Abuja for
disbursement to me and other Staff. In the case of Security Funds since it
is paid in cash I direct the Permanent Secretary to transfer cash as need
arises…”
This above Statement postulates two avenues for Cash, the first being the
Dispensation contained in Memos, and the second being the Security Funds
in Cash sent by the Permanent Secretary to him. There were no Memos
presented before the Court.
Had the Defendant stuck to this narration, he would have nothing to answer
or explain in regard to these Charges, because the Expenditure of his
Security Funds was not subject to anyone’s oversight function. He could not
even be questioned on it, and owed no one any explanation on how he spent
it. Had the Defendant merely stuck to a consistent position in regard to the
Security Vote Funds, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE could question him on how he
spent those Funds.
However, the Defendant made inconsistent Statements regarding the
Security Vote Funds. The first deviation is when he stated unequivocally in
Court, that ALL FUNDS given to him as Entitlements were duly signed by his
Orderly, who also collected his Duty Tour Allowances, and would be
surprised if his Orderly testified that he only collected DTAs. He also
extended the Beneficiaries to include Expenses for his Entourage.
He then deviated again, by stating that the Monies were NEVER HANDED
OVER to him, and he was not confronted with these Officials at the EFCC.
Further he could not recall what the Entitlements were, stating that it
depended on what was stated in the Memo. Curiously, he could also not say
whether the Government Office determined his Dispensation, and admitted
to issuing Oral Instructions to prepare Memos.
252