A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, has informed a Federal High Court in Abuja that the cash the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized from him, were gifts he received after he left office.
Recall that In February 2017, the EFCC recovered $9.7 million and £74,000 from Yakubu’s home in Kaduna.
Yakubu, who was a GMD at the NNPC between 2012 and 2014, was also indicted for failing to disclose the monies in his asset declaration form.
He was subsequently charged to court and arraigned on six counts of money laundering.
However, while giving evidence as to the first defence witness, Yakubu said 97 percent to 98 percent of the sum were gifts.
“The money was not received in bulk but in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000. And a substantial part of the money was given to me after I left the office.
“And it was given to me on the occasions of birthdays, thanksgiving services, weddings of my daughters and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving office,” he said.
Yakubu also claimed he got two percent of the monies by saving from estacodes.
The case was adjourned until July 22.
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