Ladipo Sanusi/
The noose appears to be tightening around the neck of former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is standing trial over alleged N3.2billion fraud.
His prosecutors, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today called its fifth witness before a Federal High Court, in Lagos, to testify against Kalu.
The EFCC had on October 31, 2016, slammed a 34-count charge on Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo.
Also charged is Kalu’s company, Slok Nig. Ltd.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
When trial resumed on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), called his fifth witness, Mrs Toyosi Ekorhi, into the witness box.
In her examination-in-chief, the witness, who is a compliance officer at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that the bank had forwarded the account status of Slok Nig. Ltd to the EFCC.
She said it was in response to an inquiry by the commission, over same, about two months ago.
The witness told the Court that she joined FCMB on October 13, 2008, adding that the documents were retrieved from the archives of the defunct Inland Bank Plc.
She, however, told the Court that she had no knowledge of its contents because she never worked at Inland Bank.
According to the witness, the company’s statements of account sent to the EFCC covered transactions carried out between August 27, 2008 and Nov. 12, 2012.
She, however, claimed ignorance of the transactions which she said were done in Finbank Plc.
During cross-examination, the defence counsel, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), enquired from the witness if the first accused was listed as a director of the company.
In response, the witness said that the name of the first accused (Kalu), was not listed as one of the Directors of Slok Nig. Ltd.
She added that the second accused (Udeogu) was also not a signatory to the company’s account.
Justice Mohammed Idris, has adjourned until June 8 (tomorrow), for cross examination of the witness by the second defence counsel.
In the charge, the accused allegedly committed the offences between August 2001 and October 2005.
According to court papers, Kalu allegedly utilised his company to retain in the account of First Inland Bank, (now FCMB), the sum of N200 million.
The sum allegedly formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.
In one of the counts, his company (Slok Nig Ltd) and one Emeka Abone, who is said to be at large, allegedly retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million, on behalf of the first accused.
In counts one to 10, the accused allegedly retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts, which funds were said to belong to the Abia State government.
Cumulatively, in all the counts, the accused allegedly diverted over N3.2 billion from the Abia State government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.
The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005.
It is also said to have contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering Act of 1995, as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Another witness who testified yesterday had disowned Kalu’s bank drafts’ applications.
Mr. Romanus Madu said that he never applied for drafts from any bank while serving as cashier of the Government House, Umuahia, Abia State.
Madu also insisted that he did not know the purpose for which the huge cash he delivered to his boss, the second defendant in the criminal charge, was used.
He stated this while being cross-examined by lawyer to the defendants.
The witness, after identifying exhibit B3 – the Government House’s statement of account, told the Court that he, Cosmos Ndukwy, and Chief of Staff to Kalu, one Chijioke Nwokode were the signatories to the account.
He also told the Court that he withdrew the sum of N15million and N27million on two occasions from the account.
However, during cross-examination by the lawyers to defendants, the witness told the court that he never applied for any draft from any bank while working as Cashier of the Government House, Umuahia, Abia State.
He was cross-examined by Chief Solo Akuma (SAN), who asked him what he knew about how the huge amount he gave to his boss (the second defendant) was being spent?
He replied that though, he knew that millions of Naira was being used to run the government, which includes: office of First Lady, when governor is on tour, and others, adding that he could only give account of the weekly imprest given to him for maintenance of the Government House, and that he was not in position to know what the huge amount received by the second defendant were used for.
He said, “Approval do come from Chief of Staff to the Director of Finance, but approval for huge amount is usually by the governor.
“I only know that the weekly imprest given to me is used to maintain the office but I’m not in position to know what they use the huge money for.”
When probed further about application written on his name and said to be signed by him to Fidelity Bank for purchase of bank drafts.
The witness said: “I don’t write any application for draft, and I don’t know who wrote the applications.
“Exhibit E was not signed or made by me. I never work with Fidelity Bank.”
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