An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Trinity Usman, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how he received and transferred three million dollars into a company account belonging to Mrs. Aisha Achimugu.

Usman, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW-2), gave this evidence before Justice Emeka Nwite in the ongoing trial of Halima Buba, Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, and Innocent Mbagwu, the bank’s Executive Director.

The bank executives are facing a six-count charge for allegedly aiding high-value cash transactions totalling $12 million without routing them through a financial institution, an offence contrary to the Money Laundering Act. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Usman testified that in April 2025, he was contacted by another BDC operator, Suleiman Ciroma, who needed $3 million transferred to Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, owned by Aisha Achimugu. Usman stated that he used his company, Triple A and Tee Oil and Gas Nig Ltd, to make the transfer in four tranches after receiving the equivalent cash from Ciroma.

Under cross-examination, Usman admitted he did not know the defendants, Halima Buba and Innocent Mbagwu, and had never informed them about the transactions. He also revealed that he used his oil and gas company account for the transfer because the license for his BDC company, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, had been suspended at the time.

The court had earlier heard from the first prosecution witness, Suleiman Ciroma, who stated that Mrs. Achimugu sought the dollar transfer to avoid banking the cash directly, which would have prevented her from moving the funds electronically. Ciroma confirmed the money was intended for the purchase of oil blocks.

After Usman’s cross-examination, Justice Nwite adjourned the case until December 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial.