The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday called
its second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former
Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President
Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who is being prosecuted on
money laundering charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had alleged that
Okupe and his co-defendants, in 2014, took about N240m from the
Office of the National Security Adviser without any
justification.
But Okupe had denied the allegation.
The second prosecution witness, a former Executive Director,
News, Nigerian Television Authority, Mr. Olusola Atere, while
testifying before the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday
stirred a controversy when he said he could “not recall” authoring
a letter said to be bearing NTA logo, his name, and signature.
The letter produced in court by the defence team led by
Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), was said to have been addressed to Okupe’s
office as SSA to the President, acknowledging the presidential
aide’s ‘OK’ payment of about N3m for the sponsorship of a
programme, ‘Insight’, on NTA.
The defence said the letter not only acknowledged the payment of
the N3m but also requested more money for the programme which was
said to have been aired by the national television for many
months.
Responding under cross-examination, Atere, who had in his
evidence-in-chief, told the court that the programme was aired by
NTA as part of its corporate social responsibility on a
free-of-charge basis, said he could not recall authoring the
letter.
Asked by Gazdama if the signature on the document was his, the
witness, said, “I can’t recall writing this letter because the
signature slightly looks different from my signature.”
The witness repeated the same line when asked the same question
at different times.
The judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, while cautioning the
prosecuting counsel, Mr. Audu Ibrahim, to refrain from unnecessary
interjection that could suggest answers to Atere, noted that the
witness’ testimony was not a total denial of the signature or the
letter.
The judge observed that the witness’ inability to recall
authoring the letter did not necessarily imply that he did not
author it.
She then directed the witness to sign a specimen signature which
would be compared with his signatures on another document already
admitted as an exhibit and on the document being contested.
Earlier in his evidence-in-chief, Atere, who was led by the
prosecuting counsel, Audu, said the programme, ‘Insight’, was meant
for the promotion of the former President Goodluck Jonathan-led
Federal Government’s policies and programmes.
He said by the arrangement they agreed on at the preliminary
meeting before floating the programme, Okupe, as SSA to the
President on Public Affairs, was to provide presenters and guests,
including serving ministers, who would speak at each edition of the
programme.
The 59 counts instituted against the former presidential aide by
the EFCC involved allegations that the defendants, including Okupe,
took from the Office of the National Security Adviser about N240m
said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Ojukwu adjourned the case till March 15 and April 1.
Read more okupes-trial-efccs-witness-stirs-controversy-over-payment-for-nta-programme/
2019 Elections: NAF Deploys ISR Aircraft for
Intelligence Gathering
NAF Air Officers at meeting with CAS
In line with the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),
General Abayomi Olonisakin, to all Services on the need to ensure
peaceful conduct of the forthcoming Gubernatorial and States’ House
of Assembly elections, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air
Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed Air Officers Commanding
(AOCs) and field commanders to ensure safety of lives and
properties in their various locations.
This is in addition to the deployment of NAF aircraft, including
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to
various flash points in support of the Nigeria Police and other
security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The CAS stated this during his operational briefing to Principal
Staff Officers (PSOs) and AOCs held today, 6 March 2019, at the
Headquarters, NAF Abuja. The meeting also afforded the AOCs the
opportunity to give updates on the level of preparedness and the
security arrangements put in place for the conduct of the elections
in their various areas of responsibilities (AORs).
During the meeting, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that contingency
plans have been emplaced in case of any break down of law and order
while NAF Hospitals and medical centres have been put on alert to
assist in attending to any medical emergencies. The CAS emphasized
that the responsibility of Commanders is to ensure security of
lives and property of Nigerians. He noted that no excuse would be
tolerated for any failure in this regard.
He also reminded AOCs that they must ensure that all NAF
personnel remain professional in the discharge of their duties
whilst ensuring that no individual or group of individuals is
allowed to undermine the electoral process.
He stressed that NAF personnel must endeavour to operate in
accordance with the Code of Conduct promulgated by Defence
Headquarters (DHQ) for members of the Armed Forces during
elections. They must sternly resist any entreaties by unscrupulous
politicians to get involved in partisan politics. Air Marshal
Abubakar therefore urged all eligible voters to come out en-masse
to vote for the candidates of their choice.
The CAS also noted that, as part of its constitutional role of
providing aid to civil authority, the NAF assisted the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) in successfully airlifting a
total of 633,790 Kg of electoral materials to 31 different
locations across the country from 12 February to 3 March 2019. He
highlighted that 8 NAF aircraft were employed in the airlift
operation, flying a total of about 340 hours in 257 sorties with
about 120 crew members involved, comprising pilots, technicians and
other specialties operating on an almost round the clock basis.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force