N29bn Arms Deal: Court Admits More Evidence Against Ex-Air Chief, Amosun, Others

Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 4, 2017, admitted as exhibits the confessional statements of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesola Amosun(retd.) and two serving senior officers of the Nigeria Air Force, NAF- Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga- tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The defendants alongside eight companies are standing trial over an alleged case of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigeria Air Force.

At the last adjourned sitting on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, the defence had objected to the admissibility of the statements on the grounds that the prosecution witness, Tosin Owobo, an operative of the EFCC, did not state categorically that he took the statements of the defendants.
The defence had also urged the court not to admit the documents in evidence on the grounds that the statements were not duly certified.

However, Justice Idris, in his ruling on Thursday, held that the documents sought to be tendered by the prosecution were original and could be tendered by anyone since they were duly certified.

Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel, further sought to tender the statement of account and account opening package of Solomon Enterprises as well as St. Solomon Healthcare, the first defendant’s companies that allegedly received certain funds from one of the NAF accounts.

However, Bolaji Ayorinde , SAN, counsel to the first defendant, objected on the grounds that one of the documents sought to be tendered was not in the proof of evidence given to him.

Counsels to the other defendants aligned with Ayorinde’s submission.

Justice Idris adjourned the matter to Friday, May 5, 2017 for ruling.