EFCC, Ohakim’s Lawyers Clash In Court Over N270m Cash Payment For Abuja House

There was drama in court on Thursday as a prosecution witnessed of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and a lawyer defending former
Imo Governor in a N270 million money laundering case, clashed before
the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The clash followed strident attempts by Ohakim's lawyer, Awa Kalu, a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to be shown the copies of the
petitions which the EFCC claimed were written against the former
governor by several groups and individuals prompting his trial.

Ohakim is alleged to have made a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00( N270
million ) for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04,
Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street,
Asokoro, Abuja.

While answering a question by the defence counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN,
prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda, said the Commission received over
five petitions against the accused person.

Dauda, a Senior Detective Superintendent, SDS, with the EFCC, told the
court that some of the petitions against the accused person were
received from the following sources: Alliance of Redemption and
Destiny Organization; Aggrieved Imo State Citizens; Citizens for Imo
Economic Security and 27 people (who are all signatories to a
petition) from each of the 27 local governments in the state.

When asked by the defence counsel if he made any effort to confirm
whether or not the groups were registered, Dauda said there was no
need to do that.
Dauda further told the court, while answering a question by the
defence counsel, that all the petitions were investigated.

However, when the defence counsel asked for copies of the petitions in
court, the prosecution witness told the court that the petitions were
in the Commission's files.

''My Lord, it is important we see the petitions because the liberty
and freedom and of our client is at stake. Besides, we need to see the
petitions so that we can cross-examine the witness thoroughly,'' said
the defence counsel.

However, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, raised an objection
to the request, saying that the defence counsel had failed to do the
proper thing as required by law.

According to Keyamo, ''My Lord, in a criminal charge, you cannot ask a
witness to present copies of petitions in court. It is wrong to harass
or ambush a witness to present copies of petitions against an accused
person in court. If you really needed them, you should have applied
for them or told me. If you want them and you tell me, I will bring
them.''

The defence counsel then prayed the court to ask the prosecution
witness to give him copies of the petitions.

Responding, Keyamo told the court that he would give copies of the
petitions to the defence counsel within 24 hours.
In his ruling, Justice Ademola said the prosecution was right in his
submission, adding that ''If you (the defence counsel) needed them, as
you do need them, you would have asked the prosecution to give them to
you.''

The case was adjourned to December 7, 2015 for continuation of trial.

-Vanguard