A prosecution witness, on Monday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja how Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, a former member of the House of Representatives, allegedly issued 14 dishonoured cheques valued at N125 million in connection with a loan transaction dating back to 2011.

Testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1), Mustapha Usman narrated before Jude Onwuegbuzie (Justice) that the cheques, issued by the defendant, were returned unpaid when presented to the bank, prompting a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Led in evidence by Sylvanus Tahir, prosecution counsel, Usman said he was present when the loan was arranged through Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, who was at the time a member of the House of Representatives.

According to the witness, Gebi had approached Ahmed in 2011 for a “friendly loan” of N125 million, which was granted without interest, with an undertaking to repay within 60 days.

“I was there when the first defendant wrote an undertaking to repay the loan within 60 days without interest.

“However, when the 60 days elapsed, he did not fulfil his obligation, and I later met him to demand repayment,” Usman told the court.

Usman said the former lawmaker subsequently issued 14 cheques totalling N125.5 million in favour of his company, Musty Petroleum Limited.

He explained that the additional N500,000 reflected a partial payment he made to Gebi after the defendant requested N1 million to fund a proposed trip to the United States, which he said was meant to enable him access funds for repayment.

“He told me he was expecting money from the United States and needed N1 million for his ticket. To reduce the risk, I gave him N500,000,” Usman said.

The witness added that some of the cheques were issued from the account of Craft Technology Ltd, while others were drawn directly from Gebi’s personal account.

“All 14 cheques, dated January 12, 2012, were presented to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) but were returned unpaid.

“When I presented the cheques, they were dishonoured and returned. I was told that withdrawal attention was required.

“Because they were UBA cheques and I also have an account with the bank, I later found out that both Craft Technology Ltd and the defendant’s personal accounts were not funded”, Usman said.

Usman told the court that despite repeated assurances from Gebi, the loan remained unpaid, forcing him to petition the EFCC in September 2012.

He said it was only after the EFCC became involved that the defendant began to make repayments.

“He first paid N20 million, then another N34 million. He continued paying in bits,” the witness said, adding that as recently as two weeks before the court session, he received a payment of N12 million.

He further told the court that during the last sitting on December 18, 2025, the defendant claimed to have completed repayment, a claim Usman disputed.

“I told him that was not correct. He checked his records and later that same day paid the outstanding sum of N10.5 million after leaving the court,” he said.

A statement by the EFCC notes that during the proceedings, the prosecution tendered a letter of undertaking dated December 19, 2011, which was admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit PW1a.

“The 14 cheques issued in favour of Musty Petroleum Limited were also admitted and marked as Exhibits PW1b to PW1xiv. In addition, Usman’s petition to the EFCC dated September 13, 2012, was admitted as Exhibit PW1e1.

“Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until January 21, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

“Gebi was initially arraigned on January 29, 2013, before Justice Abba Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a 13-count charge.

“Following Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal, the case was reassigned to Justice Onwuegbuzie”, the statement read. (BusinessDay)

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