Adesina Ogunlana withdrew N20 million from NBA account without authorisation – Witness

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Former Vice Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), Ikeja branch, Mrs. Caroline today told a Special offences Court sitting in Ikeja, that former Chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr.  Adesina Ogunlana withdrew money from the account of the NBA Ikeja branch without authorisation by the executive council and that Adesina ran the branch like a sole administrator without consulting EXCO.

Adesina Ogunlana is being tried on 30 count charge  of money laundering and theft of over N20 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).  He is being  tried along with Yinka Farounbi and Kappo Aderinola. They have pleaded not guilty to the 30 count charge.

The former Vice Chairman  who was being led in evidence in chief by  Samuel  Daji , counsel to EFCC told the court that she was Vice Chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch,  between 2016 and 2018 and that meeting of the Executive Council held on very rare occasions and that while she was VC, the EXCO of the branch neither authorised or passed  any resolution to the effect that the second and third defendants should be signing cheaques.

“From 2016 t0 18 when I served as VC, the execo meetings were held at very rare occaision,  the exco of the branch never authorised or passed any resolution to the effect that the second and third defendants should be signing cheques… it was never discussed nor authorised”, she said.

She told the court that he became aware of this when he got to the office of EFCC, when they showed her the allegation and petition against the defendants.

She said the  first defendants never really consulted the EXCO on the expenses of the association.  “He was like a sole administrator”,she said. Justice Mojisola Dada has adjourned till tomorrow for continuation of cross examination. Read also the 30 count charge.

Adesina Ogunlana, Yinka Farounbi and Kappo Aderinola and the 30-count charge filed by EFCC