‘Ex-NBA Chairmen Tenure Was Characterised By Financial Impropriety’- Witness
A former Treasurer of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Thelma Coco-Bassey, on Wednesday told a Lagos State Special Offences Court that the tenures of two past Chairmen of the Association, Adesina Ogunlana and Yinka Farounbi, was characterised by financial Impropriety.
Coco-Bassey, who was testifying in the on- going trial of Ogunlana, Farounbi and the immediate past treasurer of the association, Mrs Kappo Aderinola over a 30-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and money laundering, told the court that their lifestyle suddenly changed.
The EFCC had alleged that the defendants between 2016 to 2018 committed the offence by converting to personal use and paying the said amount into Ogunlana’s First Bank account through issuance of cheque ‘without authorisation’.
The EFCC also alleged that Ogunlana in other to facilitate the stealing, dishonestly converted the money belonging to the branch via a cheque issued to Yinka Farounbi and Kappo.
The Commission says the offences are contrary to section 278 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants are also facing counts of money laundering contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Coco-Bassey told the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, Ogunlana denied her access to the Association’s cheque books and other financial instrument during their tenure.
The witness, who was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Samuel Daji, also claimed that the alleged fraudulent activities were carried out in defiance of the Association bye law.
“It was when I got to the EFCC office that I discovered that the second and third defendants were signing cheques, which was still in their custody, for the first defendant without the knowledge of the Association.
“I am a member of the executive and I can confirm that no members of the executive was aware of any financial dealings of the defendants.
“Suddenly, I just discovered that the first defendant was lavish in his spending. He was carrying monies in cellophane bags.
“By our bye law, the chairman and the treasurer are to be signatory at all time. When the treasurer is not available, the secretary can sign with the chairman.
“I never saw the cheque books of the association. The cheque book was with third defendant. It was because of my insistence that the third defendant (Aderinola) must hand over all financial instrument of the association to me that the first defendant (Ogunlana) admitted that the cheque book was in his custody,” Coco-Bassey testified.
The matter has been adjourned until October 21 for continuation of trial.