Abuja – An operative of the EFCC, Miss Rouqayya Ibrahim on Tuesday, told a Federal High Court
Abuja that the process of awarding contracts in the office of Stephen Oronsaye, a former Head of Service, was flawed.

*Mr. Stephen Oronsaye

Oronsaye and Osarenkhoe Afe are standing trial for money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
They are being tried with four companies, Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited.

Ibrahim, an investigator and EFCC detective, while being cross examined by the defence counsel, Mr Ade Opeyemi (SAN),
also told the court that all payments made involving bio-metrics, supplies and consumables in the Head of Servive’s
Office were not documented.

She said that apart some of the contracts awarded by the HOS, the others were fictitious.

She also said that a company, Zangee Technologies was paid even when no contract was awarded.

Ibrahim said that based on investigations the EFCC discovered about N14 billion in pension fraud at the Head of Service.

“I am not specific as to when payments were made until I see the statements of accounts. I am sure all these payments were made during the tenure of Oronsaye as Head of Service.

“I came to the conclusion that the process of awarding contracts were flawed because there were certain documents to show that due process was followed.

“Secondly, I am aware there is a threshold for every ministry and departments in the award of contracts, though I admitted I do not know the thresholds for the award of contracts,” Ibrahim said.

When asked how she was sure that 66 illegal accounts were opened according to her examination in chief, she replied: “I wrote to the Accountant General of the Federation and found out.

“He replied that the accounts were opened without his approval,’’ she said.

She added that some of these accounts were actually opened before the tenure of Oronsaye, who she admitted was not a signatory to any of these accounts.

The witness also admitted that there was no evidence to prove that Oronsaye benefited from any “collective allowances’’.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned hearing for further cross examination of the witness until May 14. (NAN)