The Nation Newspaper

Tag: witness

  • A witness and evidence

    Former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro’s answer to a question in court prompted other questions. Obanikoro, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, can be described as a star witness.

    A March 20 report said: “Under cross-examination by counsel for Spotless Limited, Fayose’s co-accused, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Obanikoro said there was no documentary evidence to back up all he said in court. Ojo asked him: “Did you produce any evidence to back any of your assertions before this court?” Obanikoro answered: “No.” This happened at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Fayose is on trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2 billion and $5 million allegedly stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), contrary to the Money Laundering Act.  Obanikoro had allegedly delivered the money to Fayose to fund the former governor’s 2014 governorship campaign.   The EFCC listed Obanikoro as one of 22 witnesses to testify in the trial.

    Before the trial, in 2016, while Obanikoro was being questioned by the EFCC in connection with the distribution of over N4billion taken from the ONSA, he was quoted as saying: “Out of N4.685billon transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, N3.880billion was transferred to both Ayodele Fayose and Senator Omisore through cash and bank transfers. The dollars contents were handed over to Fayose personally by me in the presence of some party leaders and he collected it and took it to the room next to where we were all seated.”

    Fayose had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge last October. Obanikoro’s testimony was supposed to show that Fayose is guilty. The question is: Can this happen without “documentary evidence?”

    The lawyer’s question, Obanikoro’s response, and Fayose’s claim that he isn’t guilty, present an interesting picture. It suggests that this is a matter of Obanikoro’s word against Fayose’s.

    Obanikoro’s admitted failure to produce any evidence to back any of his assertions before the court could be problematic. Of course, there are other EFCC witnesses in the trial. However, it remains to be seen how Obanikoro’s non-presentation of evidence may affect the final outcome of the trial.

    From the look of things, Obanikoro never expected a day when he would be expected to provide corruption-related evidence against Fayose in court. Their corrupt collaboration, which Obanikoro testified to, will haunt them.

  • How alumnus raped UNILAG student, stole her pants, by witness

    An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court heard yesterday how an alumnus of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), John Otema, raped a student and stole her pants.

    Police Inspector Nkem Ejelonu told the court that Otema raped the student who he gave a lift on January 17, 2018, at the Distance Learning Institute (DHI) and went away with her pants, brassiere and handkerchief.

    The officer was testifying at the trial of Otema who is charged with rape and assault occasioning harm befor Justice Abiola Soladoye.

    He was alleged to have raped two students.

    Ejelonu, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) of the case, who is attached to the Adeniji Adele Police Station, said the stolen items were not found in Ejelonu’s 6, Adeleye Street Bariga, Lagos, home, when it was searched on February 6, 2018.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi, Ejelonu said: “I had earlier visited the scene of the incident, which is the area of DLI of UNILAG, to check if I could find the pants, bra and handkerchief, but I could not find anything, hence the search of his house,” she said.

    Ejelonu narrated how another complainant, also a student, was raped by Otema.

    According to her, the second student said sometime in 2018, she saw the defendant on campus; they went to the canteen to buy food but that the defendant later went to the bank and refunded her N2, 000 for the meal.

    According to the IPO, both of them became friends even after the student told him that she already had a boyfriend.

    She said during the relationship, the second victim demanded a laptop and the defendant gave her N20,000  with a promise to give her additional N30,000 later.

    The IPO said on January 30, 2018, the defendant picked up his victim, took her to his house and wanted to sleep with her.

    She claimed that she resisted, demanded N100,000 so that the defendant would  let her go, but he insisted and had his way, while  the money was not given to her.

    “He had sex with her, during that period her boyfriend was calling her. The defendant took her bag and dropped her off at campus at 11.30pm, the witness said.”

    Under cross-examination by Mr Fred Onyeka, Otema’s defence counsel, the IPO said the defendant’s car was still in police custody.

    “One of the complainants said he had sex with her in the vehicle. The vehicle is with the exhibit keeper at Adeniji Police Station,” she said.

    Justice Soladoye adjourned the case till May 9.

     

  • Evans’ trial stalled as witness gets accident

    A prosecution witness, Inspector Idowu Haruna, scheduled to testify in the trial of a suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, was yesterday reported to be involved in an accident.

    State prosecuting counsel Adebayo Haroun, who disclosed this before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offence Court, explained that the development was the reason the police officer was absent in court.

    The development stalled proceedings in the charges preferred against Evans and three other members of his gang for allegedly shooting the Young Shall Grow Motors (YSG), Chairman, Chief Obianuju Vincent and killing of two of his escorts, before Justice Taiwo.

    Evans and three co-defendants, Joseph Ikenna Emeka, 29, Chiemeka Arinze, 39, and Udeme Frank Upong, 43, are facing a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap and selling of firearms.

    Although details of the accident were not stated, Haroun told the court that the witness sent an SMS informing him of his current predicament.

    “My lord, our first prosecution witness is not present in court today. He is not in court because he had a slight accident.

    “He sent me an SMS saying he was involved in an accident and therefore cannot make it for today’s proceedings. We craved the indulgence of the court to grant another date for trial.”

    At the last proceeding, Inspector Haruna had told the court that Evans shot Chief Obianuju in his right arm while attempting to kidnap him. He said his driver, Peter Nweke and an escort, Chijoke Ngozi, were shot dead during a gun duel between the police escorts and the gang.

    Three of the kidnappers were also shot dead by Inspector Solomon Igwe, while the rest fled.

    In a related development, the defence team of the suspected kidnap kingpin, led by Olanrewaju Ajanaku, failed to serve copies of their final written address on the prosecution for the trial-within-trial on the admissibility of the alleged ‘confessional statement’ of Evans.

    The development stalled proceedings in another charge against Evans and Victor Aduba, a dismissed officer of the Army, before same court.

    Haroun had complained that a copy of the final written address by Mr. Emmanuel Ochai, counsel to Aduba, was also served on his team late yesterday.

    He said that of Evans, the first defendant, had not been served on them.

    Responding, Evans‘ counsel, Ajanaku, said his inability to file the documents was as a result of a ‘mix up.’

    He assured the prosecution that the defence final written address would get to them between yesterday and today.

    Evans and Aduba are facing a four-count charge of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

    They were alleged to have kidnapped Mr. Sylvanus Ahamonu, holding him hostage for nine weeks and collecting $420,000 ransom from his family.

    The defence had claimed in the on-going trial-within-trial that their alleged confessional statements were obtained by coercion by members of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team.

    Justice Taiwo adjourned the two cases till February 6.

     

  • INEC witness to tribunal: Ekiti poll free, fair

    A Deputy Director General of the John Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr Aduwon Rufus Sunday, yesterday told the Ekiti Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, the nation’s capital, that the July 14 poll was free, fair and credible by all standards.

    Sunday averred that contrary to the allegations of bias, violence, vote-buying and general malpractices by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prof Olusola Kolapo, who are the petitioners, the election was devoid of rancour and violence.

    Led in evidence by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to Governor John Kayode Fayemi, the witness informed the tribunal, headed by Justice Suleiman Belgore, that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not biased against any party.

    The witness maintained that it would be a daydream for anybody or group to say that the election was not free, fair, credible and acceptable.

    Sunday, who claimed to be in the situation room established by the campaign organisation to monitor the election, told the tribunal that he never got any report of violence, vote-buying and malpractice.

    The witness said all agents of political parties who participated in the election signed the result sheets.

    He said: “It is not true that INEC favoured John Kayode Fayemi in the election. The allegation of vote-buying is also not true. In fact, the election was among the best conducted by INEC.”

    Under cross-examination by Chief Roland Otaru (SAN), counsel to the petitioners, the witness, who tendered the judgment of FCT High Court delivered by Justice Othman Musa, said he was not a member of the Action People’s Party (APP), which instituted the case that sought to disqualify Governor Fayemi from contesting the July 14 election but was dismissed by the court.

    The witness admitted that his disposition on oath was based on the reports he obtained from other All Progressives Congress (APC) agents during the election.

    The PDP and Prof Kolapo filed the petition, praying the tribunal to declare them as winners of the election on the ground that they scored majority of the lawful votes.

    They alleged that the victory of Governor Fayemi was as the result of vote-buying, widespread rigging, malpractices.

    According to them, INEC officials favoured the governor during the election.

    Also, Fayemi, who was present at yesterday’s proceeding, told reporters that he was confident the tribunal will do justice to all issues raised by the petitioners.

    His lawyer, Fagbemi, expressed optimism that the tribunal would complete hearing of the petition within the time allowed by law due to the steady progress being made by the tribunal and cooperation of counsel to parties.

     

  • Witness to vote-buying

    A shout of Mr. Man, wetin you dey do? Why you dey snap your ballot paper?!” drew our attention to the voting cubicle. A security personnel was seen grabbing the trousers of an electorate and was trying to collect his phone when I got closer to the scene. When questioned, the security personnel claimed that he had seen the young man take a picture of his ballot paper and he was trying to find out why. The man he had grabbed kept insisting he had a right to take pictures of his ballot paper that it was his ballot paper and no one else’s. As the Assistant Presiding Officer/Voting Point (APO/VP), I knew it was my job to diffuse the tension that was starting grow among the queued electorates as they had also started shouting about how it was his right to do whatever he wanted with his ballot paper and the party agents weren’t helping matters either, with their leave him alone now! He can snap his ballot paper if he wants! shouts.  I calmly explained to the crowd that it was wrong for an electorate to take pictures of his/her ballot paper especially after voting. Although it was called an open-secret ballot system, it meant that they would cast their votes in the presence of other people in other to avoid claims of rigging, but whoever they voted for was to be known to them alone.

    After my explanation, another man stepped forward and told me he understood what I was trying to say that but I should also understand that it was the young man’s only proof to the party agents that he had voted for their party. He said that that was the only way he would be able to get the money that had been promised him by party agents of the party he voted for. I was surprised to see other people in the queue nodding their heads in agreement. Baffled thoughts danced around my brain till we ended the election and I got back home. I knew vote buying had been happening for a while but when it became something so open– was the prominent thought in my head.

    It wasn’t a surprise when the results were announced and a lot of people began insisting the election had been rigged. That was the obvious outcome; some people had exchanged their votes for material benefits. The results would definitely have been in favour of the party that could afford to do that. It was through this experience I realised just how much of a menace vote buying has become to Nigeria’s political system.

    The obvious outcome of vote buying is that it is gradually becoming the bane of democracy in Nigeria. For a country that is using a democratic system, the electorates are slowly losing their voting power by exchanging it for money and other material things. And by so doing, there is a big distortion and hindrance to the idea of a free and fair election that ensures that the electorates elect the leaders they deem fit to rule them.

    Why person go vote with when some people dey wey dey collect money from politicians come dey vote for them? No be waste of time? Make me sef use opportunity take chop my own now, was one response that an electorate gave that stuck to my head that day. I was shocked to witness such cynicism. I could understand though, people had begun to witness how seemingly useless it was for them to wholeheartedly vote without the influence of anyone while others voted for political parties that had paid them certain amount of money and those parties were always gaining power. Since parties have begun buying their ways into victories, people are beginning to find their voting power useless and are instead trading it for material things. Not only are they seeing it as a means to gain money or other things of monetary value, some are referring to it as a means to also eat in the national cake that politicians are enjoying.

    The rampant spread of vote buying is acting as a catalyst for the destruction and death of democracy and also acting as a hindrance to the possibilities of good governance in the country. Political parties that can’t provide capable candidates that can govern the country but can afford to buy votes are now using this means as a way to buy their candidates into power. The obvious outcome is that those positions fall into the wrong hands.

    As a result of vote buying, the electoral process has become very expensive. Candidates now think without money and their ability to pay their way into people’s hearts one way or the other, they wouldn’t win elections. As a result of this, candidates that are likely to succeed at governing the country give up on the thought before they even try. For candidates that can afford the monetary implications of contesting for a position, they get into power and see it as a means to get the money they lost during the electoral process and in the process, they forget to do what they have been elected into power to do.

    For a country whose citizens have been chanting “we want change”, vote buying has been acting as a veil that is blocking their eyes from reality. They are only seeing a means of gaining money and being blinded to the outcome of the choice they make regarding who they elect into power. How do expect change to occur when you’ve traded in your power to bring in change for money? How can change happen if money has made you give power to the wrong person?

    As much as vote buying is a cancer that is slowly burrowing its way into the country, it is serving as an eye opener to those who want it to be. Like cancer that begins to spread through the body due to an infected tissue, vote buying obviously persists due to corruption among electoral officers. Some of them have seen elections as a means to make money and thereby allow corrupt practices before and during elections.

    It is saddening to realise that people still don’t learn their lessons from the outcome of previous elections. After selling their votes and voting in the wrong people to power, they are governed wrongly and the country witnesses a backlash on the choices they made when they sold their votes. It is quite unfortunate to see that this has still not opened their eyes to the problem vote buying is posing on their country.

    As the 2019 elections draw near, all I can hope for is that people see how badly vote buying is burrowing into the political sphere of the country and can try to avoid the plague. People should be educated on what democracy is, the power they wield due to democracy and how this power can effect the change they have been craving for. Because politicians have seen how poor some people are and how desperate poor people can be, they have relied heavily on vote buying by targeting people who would do anything for money.  People should however realise that with good governance comes good policies; with good policies comes a strong economy and with a strong economy comes enough money for everyone in a country.

     

    • Adetayo graduated from University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

  • How I raised $1m to free my brother from Evans, by witness

    Mr Edwin Udoji, a witness in the on-going trial of billionaire kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike,alias Evans, yesterday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere how he raised $1million ransom for the freedom of his brother  and businessman, Mr James Udoji.

    Led in evidence by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Edwin, who is elder brother to the victim, told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he coordinated how the money was raised.

    Udoji was kidnapped on his way home from work in the evening of September 7, 20-15 when he was allegedly kidnapped by Evan and his men.

    He  had on Friday narrated to the court how he was abducted on 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos by a gang of armed gunmen, who rode in a Lexus 470 Sport Utility Vehicle, and fired several shots at his Hilux van, before dragging him out and whisking him off.

    Edwin told the court  he  raised the $1 million in two tranches of $200,000 and $800,000.

    Edwin said the kidnappers told him specifically that they wanted the ransom in $100 bills and that the bills must be new and genuine.

    He told the court that the kidnappers warned him against bringing fake bills and that if he did, he would pay a fine of $10,000 for every fake $100 bill.

    Edwin, who is fourth prosecution witness, told the court that about one hour after his younger brother was kidnapped, their elder brother, Sir Uche Udoji, telephoned him to break the news to him.

    He said they immediately drove to the police station in Festac where they lodged a complaint at about 7pm.

    He said they found on the premises of the police station, the Hilux van, which their brother and his driver rode in, noting that the widescreen was shattered, while its body was riddled with bullets.

    Edwin said he later received a call from a hidden number, with the caller telling him to hold on for his brother but before the brother could talk the line went off.

    He said the caller phoned him about one hour later and he spoke with his brother who cried and begged him to raise the ransom.

    “He told me that there was a bullet inside his body and that if I did not act fast, he would die,” the witness said.

    He said to raise the money he called all the distributors doing business with the victim’s factory, which produces wires and cables, and begged them to help out.

    He said the caller using a hidden line kept calling him to put pressure on him to raise   the money fast.

    “At a point, they told my brother that your brother is not making enough effort.”

    He said at a point, the unknown caller even proposed to swap him with his kidnapped brother so that the businessman could go and raise the ransom faster.

    He said while the first tranche of $200,000 was delivered at about 2a.m. on September 16, 2015 near Cele Bus Stop on the Oshodi-Apapa, the second tranche of $800,000 was delivered in the eastern part of the country on October 11, 2015.

    Under cross-examination by Evans’ lawyer, Mr Chino Obiagwu, Edwin said he also reported the case to the Department of State Services, where an operative advised him to keep the call log.

    He, however, said he never recorded the voice of the caller and did not submit the call log to the police for investigation.

    The driver, who testified as the third witness, pulled off his top to show the judge the scar of the bullet wound he sustained in the attack.

    Further proceedings were adjourned till October 4.

  • Evans shot me, pretended to be a doctor – Witness

    A prosecution witness, Chief James Uduji, yesterday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that suspected ‘billionaire’ kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, shot him during his kidnap and afterwards pretended to be a doctor.

    Uduji told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that Evans was the driver of the Lexus 470 SUV which he and three other members of his gang used during the operation.

    The witness testified at the commencement of the prosecution’s case against Evans and his co-defendants; Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    The four were arraigned on June 26 following the dismissal of Evans’ objection to a five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder, preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

    The defendants and others at large allegedly committed the offences on September 7, 2015, at Seventh Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

    The allegedly conspired and kidnapped Uduji, obtained a ransom of $1.2 million dollars and shot him on the shoulder while trying to kill him.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Evans is also facing another charge of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before the same judge.

    He is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    Led in examination by prosecution counsel Adebayo Haroun, Uduji narrated yesterday how he was kidnapped on September 7, 2015, by four armed men on his way home from his factory at Agbara in Ogun State.

    He said the incident took place very close to his house at 7th Avenue area of Festac Town, Lagos.

    Uduji said the alleged kidnappers drove a Lexus 470 SUV and fired several gun shots during the kidnap operation.

    The witness said he was surprised to see the men shooting towards his vehicle, adding that he thought they were the police.

    Uduji said: “I was inside my Hilux van with my two drivers when the men came and pulled me out of my vehicle and dragged me inside their own vehicle.

    “I was not blindfolded at this point, so I saw the men clearly and the man at the steering wheel with a gun was Evans; he is the only one I can recognise among the four,” Uduji said.

    The witness testified that it was when he was dragged out of his vehicle, that he noticed that he was stained with blood.

    “I then realised I had sustained bullet wounds,” he explained.

    Uduji said the kidnappers called a doctor on phone who treated his bullet wounds at their destination.

    The witness said he was given two tetanus injections for seven days, adding that Evans was the so called doctor who treated him.

    He said that he stayed for 45 days in captivity and a ransom of 1.2 million dollars was paid before he was released by the alleged kidnappers.

  • My brother’s friends kicked him to death, says witness

    Lagos High Court yesterday heard that two men, Dare Ogunrotimi and Kola Ali, allegedly beat their friend Promise Okon to death.

    Okon’s sister, Chioma, made this known while testifying in Ogunrotimi and Ali’s trial before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    The defendants were arraigned on June 5, on a one-count charge of manslaughter.

    According to the prosecution counsel, Mr Sunmonu Babatunde, Ogunrotimi and Ali committed the offence at about 6pm on February 10, 2016, on Anthony Ezemoke Street, Oke-Ira, Ajah, Lagos.

    Chioma, the first prosecution witness, alleged that the duo beat Promise up in his house till he could no longer move.

    The court heard that Promise was rushed to a hospital where he began vomiting black, watery substance.

    “He was discharged from the hospital on February 13, 2016 but he died the next day, February 14, 2016,” Chioma said.

    According to her, the “excessive beating” given to Promise by the defendants, caused his death.

    Under cross-examination by defence counsel Mr Melvin Obadah, Chioma said she did not witness the beating, rather the deceased’s neighbour narrated the incident to her.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned till October 30.

  • Ladoja’s trial: N180m not remitted to govt, says witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that the Oyo State Government sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after it uncovered an alleged fraud in the sale of the state’s shares in seven banks by the Rashidi Ladoja administration.

    Testifying in Ladoja’s trial for alleged money laundering, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Bureau of Investment and Public, Private Partnership, Mr Yinka Fatoki, said state officials allegedly got “gifts” running into millions of naira from the portfolio manager.

    The witness recalled that in 2007, while he was an Acting Director of Investment Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce, and while serving as the Desk Officer for Oyo’s holdings in public quoted equities, the state executive council reached a decision to sell off the state’s shares.

    “In 2007, there was a decision by the state to sell some of the shareholdings in about seven banks, including First City Monument Bank, UBA, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chattered Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank. Fountain Securities Ltd was appointed the Portfolio Manager,” he said.

    He said the Ministry of Commerce was mandated to generate the letters of instruction to liquidate the shares, which was carried out.

    He said after the sale of the shares, Fountain Securities remitted the funds in three installments to the state.

    Fatoki said the shares were sold at a discount, with the proceeds amounting to N4.3billion, adding that not all the shares were sold.

    The witness said the Christopher Alao-Akala administration ordered an investigation on the transaction, and a stockbroker, GTI Securities, was appointed to review Fountain Securities’ report on the transactions.

    Fatoki said N180million, which was part of the proceeds of the shares sales, was not remitted to the state.

    “GTI submitted its report to the state government. The report was reviewed and the state decided to cause a petition to be forwarded to the EFCC. I was named in the petition as one of the suspects,” the witness said.

    Under cross examination by Ladoja’s lawyer Mr Bolaji Onilenla, the witness said he was not part of those who authorised the sale of the shares.

    He said Fountain Securities had been the state’s portfolio manager since 2001.

    “They were initially contracted by the Lam Adesina administration for a three-year period, which was rolled over by the Ladoja administration,” he said.

    He said Fountain Securities gave cash gifts to government officials. On one occasion, he said the portfolio manager brought four cheques of N5million each.

    “The commissioner reached out to the political functionaries while I dealt with civil servants. The gifts were unrelated to the sale of Oyo State’s shares,” he said.

    EFCC re-arraigned Ladoja for allegedly converting N4.7billion from the state treasury to his personal use, eight years after he was first arraigned.

    Ladoja was charged along with his former Commissioner for Finance Waheed Akanbi on eight counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    EFCC accused them of converting N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited, despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

    The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42million for himself using public funds.

    EFCC said he converted N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).

    Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

    Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached. On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

    The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006. He, however, lost a re-election bid.

    Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned until April 12 and 13 for continuation of trial.

  • Witness: Fani-Kayode made multiple cash withdrawals of N10m

    Witness: Fani-Kayode made multiple cash withdrawals of N10m

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode allegedly made multiple cash withdrawals of N10 million ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    A banker, Mr. Teslim Ajuwon, while testifying in Fani-Kayode’s trial, said the former minister allegedly exceeded the withdrawal limit of N5 million for individuals.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Femi Fani-Kayode and Senator Nenadi Usman for alleged N4.6 billion fraud.

    They pleaded not guilty to a 17-count charge of money laundering.

    The former ministers were charged along with former chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State Mr. Yusuf Danjuma and a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

    Ajuwon, a Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank Plc, said only a corporate body could lawfully withdraw N10 million and above.

    He said any withdrawal exceeding the threshold attracted a surcharge.

    Ajuwon, the second prosecution witness, led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Nnaemeka Omenwa, said Fani-Kayode withdrew N10 million cash no fewer than 24 times between March 19 and 27, 2015.

    Ajuwon said Joint Trust Dimensions credited N840 million to Fani-Kayode’s account on three occasions.

    Under cross-examination by Usman’s lawyer Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Ajuwon said he could not tell whether Fani-Kayode personally came to the bank to make the withdrawals.

    Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), asked Ajuwon if Fani-Kayode was surcharged after making the withdrawals, and the witness said the former minister was surcharged N2, 206,290 after making 14 withdrawals above the limit.

    The witness said he was not aware if his bank advised its customers on how not to violate the law, adding that any individual who withdrew about the N5 million limited paid a surcharge and was allowed to take the money out.

    The defendants were accused of indirectly retaining N300 million, N400 million and N800 million, all proceeds of corruption, according to EFCC.

    Trial continues today.