Sule Lamido’s trial adjourned
– Witness testimony absolves Lamido of making deposit into company account
– Documents tendered for verification in court
The trial of a former governor Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido has been adjourned to March 2016.
Sule Lamido and his two sons are currently facing trial for abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N1.3 billion
The judge presiding over the case, Ademola Adeniyi today, February 12 said the prosecution will continue with its case on March 8, 9, 10 and 11.
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At the resumed hearing today, the tenth prosecution witness, Keheinde Arerugba told the court that no cash deposits were made by the former governor into the accounts of Speeds International Limited.
“No deposits were made into the account of Speeds International Limited and Speeds International Motors Limited,” Aberuagba said.
Areruagba, a compliance officer with Access Bank, tagged PW10 also said that there was no payment by the former governor into account of Bamaina company.
But he said: “On February 4, 2008, there was a cash deposit of N10 million into the account of Bamaina Holding Nigeria by one of Lamido’s sons – Aminu Lamido.”
But further into the cross-examination of PW10, the defense counsel, Joe Agai asked whether the bank allows a customer access to his accounts with full compliance to stipulated regulations.
“You as compliance officer, do you allow a customer operate his account with compliance to all the regulations?” Agai asked. To this, Aberuagba answered, no.
Aberuagba also said that from his reports, Aminu Wada Abubakar and Mustapha Lamido are neither shareholders nor directors to Rhoda Integrated company.
Aberuagba said the account wad opened at the instance of the board resolution.
“My lord, there is a charge linked to that letter of introduction, that they (Aminu and Mustapha) opened the account without the authorization of the owner of the account,” Agai told the court.
Agai said he was making this a case for subsequent address before the court.
The court however asked the witness to produce the letter and tender it before the court.
Further into the witness re-examination by the prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, Pw10 told the court that no letter of introduction was handed over to the EFCC.
Aberuagba said all documents handed to the EFCC by Access Bank are the same documents that have been tendered before the court.
With this the PW10 is discharged from the witness box as another witness, Kabiru Muhammad tagged as PW11 is called in.
Muhammad, is a deputy detective superintendent with the EFCC and an investigative officer in the matter.
Pw11 said he took four additional statements from the defendants between November to December 2013 and January 2014.
Muhammad said he went to Kano to verify three companies – Speeds International Limited, BAM Maina, and Gada construction company supplied diesel as stated to Dantata office in Kano.
“I went to Dantata office with my colleague, Ahamad Sagir; I met Ibrahim Mahood, a transport officer in chagre of Bitumen and cement,” Muhammad said.
He said during the interview, Mahood confirmed that there was no single supply from the three companies as claimed.
“He brought a register where all companies that made supplies are registered; we checked from 2007 up to June 8, 2015,” he said.
Muhammad told the court that no such entry by the three companies were found on the Dantata register.
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He said, he went further to Adamu, the person in charge of building materials who told him that his department did not have a register but works with invoice from companies that made supplies.
“We checked all the invoice received within the said period but found nothing relating to the supply of diesel from BAM Maina company, Speeds International Limited and Gada construction company,” the witness added.
He also said before he took statement from the second defendant, Aminu Lamido on November 16, 2013, he told him that he has alo given a statement on the previous day.
Muhammad told the court that Aminu confirmed that he is a director in the family’s company, Speeds International Limited.
He however said he cannot remember taking statement from first, third and fourth defendants.
Muhammad also added that he visited other local government areas were he found out that some of the projects were already completed.
He however added that he was not assigned to find out if Rhoda Integrated Services Limited supplied the said items.
Muhammad said: “I only went to certify the documents as assigned by my team leader; I went to the ministries and required agencies to certify the documents.”
He however added that he went for investigation on the supply of Bitumen by the companies.
“I want to put it to you that the storekeeper misled you,” Agai said.
Lamido and his two sons are currently facing trial for abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N1.3 billion during his tenure as governor of Jigawa state.
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