Presumed $ 12 million fraud: the witness tells the role of Aisha Achimugu, Sun Trust Bank Executives in multimillionaries of cash transfers

The first witness of the accusation, PW1, in the Halima Buba and innocent Mbagwu trial on Thursday 17 July 2025, narrated before the judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja as the defendants have invented multimillions of dollars in cash through him for the transfers.

Both defendants, who are CEO/CEO and General Manager of Suntrust Bank Ltd, are respectively pursued by the Commission for Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC with an accusation of six counts, at the limit of money laundering for an amount of $ 12 million.

The witness, an operator of the Bureau de Change, despite being highlighted by the prosecutor, Ekele Iheanacho, San, provided details on the multiple foreign currency transactions that took place between him, the first defendants and Aisha Achimugu.

According to him, “Sometimes in March 2025, I received a call from Aisha Achimugu who has a forex transaction in Sun Trust Bank in Abuja and Lagos Branch and I called the first accused and she confirmed me that he was aware of the transaction. Exchanges to be paid in the oil and gas account of Aisha Achimugu, domiciled in Zenith Bank, which I confirmed from the first accused. Friend Tirzi of Triple A, who sent Abdulkadir Mohammed to collect $ 1 million in cash.

In addition, in his testimony, he said: “Aisha Achimugu called me that he needed to buy an oil block and will need a flow of dollars in the oil and gas Ocean Gate Energy in Zenith Bank. I met Aisha Achimugu in 2021 through the first accused and met at the Suntrust Bank.

“On 13th March 2025, the Got a Call from Aisha Achimugu that some cash pay payment of $ 1 Million is available in suntrust, the Called the first defense for confirmation and she feel me a normal message Through WhatsApp. When i Called mr innocent, the second defenseant heid heid not not not not not not not. Aware of the Transaction, I know the sent to Message to the first defenseant about the response of the second defenseant and she feels a screenshot of their chat with the second defenseant Through WhatsApp and the second accused now called me that I can send for cash collection.

“On 13th of March 2025, Muttar Miko Received a Total Payment of $ 2 Million from the second defenseant. He Also Received a Total Cash of $ 2 Million for Swap on the 14th March, 2025 from the Second Defenseant. On the 20th March, I Also Received a Call From Aisha Achimugu Which i Confitred from the first defenseant for $ 2 Million for a cash swap which i receivd from the second defensent and i contactd hassan of ashrob living feel healthy for cash for cash.

The witness also stated that, apart from the transaction that involved the purchase of the oil block, Aisha Achimugu also made some transactions of the exchange of Naira in dollars, which usually confirms from the first defendant in which Naira was attributed to these accounts and the equivalent of dollars was transferred to Ocean Gate Energy.

The WhatsApp print from the witness’s phone containing his communication with the first accused and the identification certificate was offered in evidence.

The question was updated until Friday 18 July 2025 for the continuation of the process.