The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday announced the first witness in its case against Aisha Alkali Wakil, also known as Mama Boko Haram, during proceedings at the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
Wakil is known to have supported the Nigerian Government to end the fight against Boko Haram using her contacts with some Boko Haram members by urging them to a ceasefire.
On April 24, 2013, she was appointed a member of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Challenges in the North, a committee set up by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to achieve a possible amnesty for repentant Boko Haram members.
In 2017, she launched her non-governmental organisation, the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, an outfit set up to provide humanitarian support for persons affected by the insurgency in Northeast Nigeria.
Mama Boko Haram was arraigned alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyede, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation.
She is being prosecuted on three count charges of criminal conspiracy, inducement and obtaining by false pretence, and fraud.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, Bilkisu Muhammed Abubakar, EFCC’s witness, who is in charge of Ihasan Vendor Services, alleged that she was asked by the defendant (Wakil) to supply goods and services worth N41 million, who has then refused to pay.
Abubakar said she worked as a volunteer at the foundation for two years during which she was asked to supply beverages and toiletries to the organisation and later to the home of Wakil, even though she was not a contractor.
“I supplied to Complete Care and Aid Foundation office two sets of televisions, two sets of telecom, nine stabilisers, 13 extension wires, cutleries, three electronic kettles, two gas cylinders, toiletries, beverages, bottled water, amongst others for 13 months,” she informed the court.
She added that she was asked to buy lunch for the defendant’s daughter Khadija Alkali, for a period of four months. She supplied four beds, five big mattresses and 16 pillows to be used by her husband and children.
“I supplied one Italian bed, a complete set of show glass, two centre tables, one Italian dining table and one cushion chair to her husband,” she said.
“I also supplied food flasks, electronics, gas cooker, one deep freezer, two industrial fans, four rechargeable fans, three sets of bedside carpets and ten ready-made clothes and 10 veils as well.”
The house furniture, electronics and food items are estimated to worth N34.6 million.
She told the court that the defendant directed her to transfer money to one Ekechukwu Modo to buy her foodstuffs from Enugu, which she did in five tranches to Modo’s First Bank account and one Harira in Malaysia for the purchase of an Arabian gown.
“My lord, during the naming ceremony of Wakil’s grandchild, I supplied all the things needed to the tune of N1.5 million,” she said.
Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, EFCC counsel, tendered evidence before the court together with the authorisation for the transfer of N1.5 million.
The trial was adjourned till Feb. 15, 2021, for the cross-examination of a prosecution witness.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
