Abuja — A former operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdullahi Bello, on Thursday told an Abuja High Court that he was not aware if there were any money missing from the Police Equipment Fund (PEF) account.

PEF National Coordinator, Kenny Martins, his deputy, Ibrahim Dumuje, had been arraigned before the court on a three-count charge of criminal breach of public trust and mismanagement of about N7.740 billion belonging to the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) fund.

They were arraigned alongside, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Police Affair, Yaro Gella. Gella was appointed a signatory to the PEF account to protect public interest. He allegedly continued as a signatory even after leaving office.

Of the N7.740 billion, the officials were accused of dishonestly converting about N59 million to private use and unlawful retention of another N774 million for personal use in violation of an agreement with ALGON and the Federal Government.

The offence is punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code CAP 532 law of the Federation of Nigeria.

Bello, who was a detective with the anti-graft agency before he joined a private organisation, was part of a team that investigated the activities of the Fund.

He was the head of transaction unit saddled with the responsibility of cross-examining the accused persons. He said he was in court to testify because he was the one who recorded the accused persons' statement.