By Lambert Tyem
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday was told that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), could not establish the addresses of the various companies which executed the N9 billion contract awarded by the leadership of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole.
While testifying before the court, the prosecution witness, Assistant Superintendent of Ibrahim Ahmed, said in the process of investigation, EFCC attempted a physical verification of the companies that were awarded the contract, but discovered that the addresses were non-existent.
Wilson Uwujaren, Ag. Head, Media and Publicity in the EFCC, said further in a statement that since physical verification was not possible, the commission resorted to writing letters inviting the directors of the companies for questioning.
Ahmed said the letters were returned to the office by the courier service three weeks later because the addresses were not traceable.
“Owing to the fact that we could not trace the addresses of the companies, we decided to write the MD’s of the companies.
“We wrote the letters and sent them through UPS Courier Service but the letters were returned three weeks later because UPS said they couldn’t trace the addresses” the witness said.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo sought to tender a document obtained from the former Speaker by the EFCC to the court as evidence but the defence counsel, O. Akanni, objected on the grounds that the documents have not been certified.
This prompted Keyamo to withdraw the document while seeking for time to get all the documents certified.
The trial judge, Justice Donatus Okorowa adjourned the case to April 3rd, 2012, for continuation of trial.
It would be recalled that Bankole was arraigned on June 8, 2011, on a 16-count charge of contract inflation and fraudulent embezzlement of public fund.
He filed two separate motions on June 13 and July 26, 2011 asking the court to quash the charges against him on the ground that the proof of evidence did not disclose any shred of criminality against him and on another ground that Mr. Keyamo, the EFCC counsel, should be disqualified from prosecuting the case as he has through his previous antecedents, shown that he was biased and impartial towards the accused person.
But the court, on December 19, 2011, dismissed the two applications filed by Bankole to stop his trial with the presiding judge, Justice Okorowa, insisting that there is sufficient evidence placed before the court linking him to the alleged crime.
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