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Tag: witness

  • Ogbulafor not on companies’ board, witness tells court

    Ogbulafor not on companies’ board, witness tells court

    A witness, Basil Momodu, yesterday told an Abuja High Court that former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor was not on the board of the three companies allegedly used to siphon N170 million.

    Ogbulafor and Emeka Ebila are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 16-count charge.

    The commission alleged that Ogbulafor, when he was the Minister of Special Duties in 2001, colluded with Ebila to float three fictitious companies, Chekwas International Nigeria Ltd, Henrichko Nig Ltd and D.H.L. Consultants.

    It also claimed that he used the companies to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

    At the resumed hearing, Momodu, during cross examination by Ogbulafor’s counsel John Egwuonwu said investigations by ICPC did not show that Ogbulafor was a share holder in any of the companies.

    Momodu told the court that Ogbulafor’s companies, Basics Nigeria Ltd, Basics Travel Nigeria Ltd and All Basics Products Ltd, did not benefit from the payments and were not mentioned on the “fake list”.

    He said Ebila told him that he gave N28 million to Chris Nwoke, who was a proxy of Ogbulafor.

    The witness also told the court that he was not present when Ebila gave Nwoke the money.

    When asked by Egwuonu whether he obtained any statement from Nwoke, confirming if he collected the amount on behalf of Ogbulafor, Momodu said he did not.

    On an alleged payment of N2 million which Ogbulafor was said to have admitted collecting from Ebila in his statement on April 24, 2006, Momodu said he did know what the money was for.

    Egwuonu said: “I put it to you that the first accused told you in his statement that the money was given to him as a gift from the second accused to assist him during his campaign for the Secretary of the PDP.

    “As at October 25, 2001, when the said money was given to my client, he had resigned as minister to enable him contest.”

    Responding, Momodu said he did not know.

    ICPC counsel Adeboyega Awomolo (SAN) tendered a copy of the report prepared by the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) with names of local and foreign contractors owed money by the Federal Government.

    Awomolo also tendered a verification report of NEIC, with names of all companies that benefited from the payments.

    Justice Ishaq Bello marked the reports as Exhibit 15 and 15(a).

    Justice Bello adjourned hearing till January 24 and 25 for cross examination of the witness by Ebila’s counsel Awa Kalu.

     

  • Atuche didn’t give money to his church, says witness

    Atuche didn’t give money to his church, says witness

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, was told yesterday that the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, did not give any loan to his church.

    The witness, Bolaji Ogunsola, who was the Deputy General Manager of Mortgage PHB ,made the clarification at the resumption of the trial of Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the bank’s former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu.

    They were arraigned for allegedly stealing N27.5 billion belonging to the bank by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ogunsola, who had earlier alleged a threat to his life, told the court that that he did not sayAtuche issued a cheque for money to be paid to his church or his lawyer’s firm.

    “I didn’t say the first defendant gave money to his church.

    “What I said is that an instrument was given by Clearmont. There’s no email by the first defendant and I didn’t confirm from him whether it was on his instruction.”

    Though he stated that Atuche was the sole signatory to the account in contention, his review of all accounts in Mortgage PHB showed that there is no sufficient information to confirm that he is the owner of the account.

    Ogunsola confirmed that those working in the bank had at various times raised instructions on the account and that such instructions were copied to Atuche.

    He said there had never been any response from Atuche on transactions copied to him and that his signature is not on the reference form.

    The witness said Atuche’s signature is not on the reference form and that there was no mandate card or Form C07 for the account.

    While being cross examined by Anyanwu’s counsel Sylva Oguemoh, Ogunsola said he never received any instruction from Anyanwu.

    The witness said Anyanwu had no supervisory power over his activities and holds no account with Mortgage PHB.

    Ogunsola said he relied on the authority on which the account was being operated prior to his joining the organisation.

    Justice Lateefa Okunnu adjourned the matter till December 4 to take application by the defence to recall a prosecution witness, Mrs Elizabeth Ebi.

    Another matter involving Atuche and a former Director of the Bank, Lekan Kasali before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo could not go on as scheduled.

     

     

  • Atuche calls for security for witness

    Atuche calls for security for witness

    The defence counsel in the trial of the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche, Anthony Idigbe, has asked a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to rule that security be provided for a prosecution witness in the case of alleged stealing of N27.5 billion against his client.

    Idigbe yesterday asked the court presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu to make the order for the provision of security for the witness to avoid delay in the trial.

    Atuche, his wife Elizabeth and the former chief financial officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N27.5 billion belonging to the bank.

    At the resumed hearing, the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), told the court for the second time that because of the alleged threat on the witness, they could not present him in court.

    Pinheiro asked the court for an adjournment.

    At the last sitting, the prosecution informed the court that its witness, Bolaji Ogunsola, a former Managing Director of Mortgage Bank PHB(a subsidiary of the bank) could not appear in court owing to allegations of threat to his life and had consequently sought for an adjournment to enable them make arrangement for his security.

    Yesterday, Pinheiro said they were seeking an adjournment to strengthen security for the witness.

    “By the end of this week, we will be meeting with the EFCC for security arrangements. I can confirm that once security is provided, our witness will come out of hiding as he is petrified and fearful for his life.”

    “The witness alleged that a person purportedly from Delta State threatened to deal with him the Delta way as he has eaten with lions and they will devour him.

    “They even added that they know his children and how to get to them. These are the areas the EFCC investigators are trying to unravel,” Pinheiro said.

    But Idigbe expressed surprise at the argument of the prosecution.

    He said that the position presented by the prosecution was peculiar with what was presented at the last trial when it sought adjournment to provide security for a witness whose life is allegedly being threatened.

    “If the contention is that there is threat to life of witness and till today, there’s no security, then that means there’s no threat or security had been provided. So there is no reason for adjournment.

    “The court should make a direct order that security be provided and a report given to court on this so the witness can come as we are anxious and ready to cross examine him”

    Anyanwu’s counsel, Sylva Oguemoh also aligned with the submissions of Idigbe (SAN).