Ex-NNPC GMD Yakubu denies recovered money was from Jide Omokore, Shagaya, Aluko

Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Andrew Yakubu

Former group managing director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu has denied that part of the recovered money in his Kaduna residence was given to him by a businesswoman Bola Shagaya.

Mr Yakubu also refuted the allegations that some of the money was given to him by oil and gas magnates Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.

He denied the allegations on Wednesday during cross-examination by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), G. Ofulue, before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency had in 2017 raided the residence of the ex-NNPC boss in Kaduna and found $9,772,800 and 74,000 pounds in a safe.

Yakubu was, however, arraigned on March 16, 2017, on six counts but the trial court struck out counts five and six.

The Court of Appeal also ordered the former GMD to defend only count three and four which bordered on failure to make full disclosure of assets, receiving cash without going through financial institution (s).

On July 8, 2020, Yakubu told the court that a substantial part of the money found at his Kaduna residence by EFCC was given to him as a gift after leaving office.

He, however, denied that the money was received from either of the three aforementioned persons.

Justice Mohammed reserved the case for ruling on November 18 after the parties in the suit adopted their processes.