N3.2b fraud: How six cheques totaling N436m were issued- Witness
A Prosecution witness, Mr Yakubu Braimoh, on Monday told a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos how six different cheques totaling N436 million were issued in favour of New Republic Newspapers.
It was at the resumed trial of former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu were Braimoh was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s witness.
Kalu, Udeh Jones and Slok Nigeria Limited were arraigned on October 31, 2016 by the anti graft agency before Justice Mohammed Idris on a 34 – count charge of N3.2 billion fraud.
When the matter came up yesterday, Braimoh, who is an Internal Control Officer with Guarantee Trust Bank, GTBank, when the alleged fraud took place, made the revelation while being led in evidence-in chief by counsel to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.
The Prosecution had earlier tendered several documents through the witness which were all admitted in evidence.
The witness while given evidence, said that sometimes in 2007, the EFCC, wrote the bank requesting for documents relating to the accounts of Slok Nigeria Limited a company owned by Kalu.
Braimoh added that GTBank forwarded all necessary documents relating to the company to the commission, these he said includes, account opening packages and other instruments.
He confirmed that in the course of the investigation by the anti-graft agency, several correspondences took place between the commission and the bank, he also admitted making statement to EFCC.
The witness while being led in -evidence Mr Rotimi Jacobs,SAN, identifies six of the instruments which are drafts issued in favour of New Republic Newspapers.
Although, the Prosecution did not lead evidence as to what the money was meant for.
Earlier, two of the defence counsel, Chief Solomon Akume, SAN for Udeh Jones and Mr C.C Nwofo for Slok Nigeria Limited opposed the admissibility of the documents but were overruled by Justice Mohammed Idris.
Peter Fowoyo
