Trial Of Ex-Punch Director: Court Frowns At EFCC For Lack Of Diligent Prosecution

Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on
Wednesday expressed concern over the manner officials of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) were handling the
trial of a former Executive Director of the Punch Newspaper,
Azubike Ishekwene.

The judge questioned the integrity of the EFCC prosecuting team
in prosecuting corruption cases saying the lack diligent
prosecution.

Ishekwene and co-defendant Olalekan Abdul are facing an amended
15-count charge, bordering on forgery, conspiracy to forge, using
false documents, making documents without authority and obtaining
money by false pretence before Justice Dada.

During resumed proceedings Wednesday, Kunle Adegoke (SAN),
counsel to Ishekwene had taken up the prosecution witness, Ndubuize
Onyebuchi, a professor of Geology, over the disparity in his claims
for deed of trust.

Adegoke also took him up on his Zenith Bank statement of account
which indicated transfer of shares fund.

Responding, EFCC car ounsel, Idris Mohammed said the defence
cannot question the witness on the documents on the grounds that
they are not certified true copies.

In his reaction, Adegoke, explained to the court that the
documents in contention were part of exhibits already admitted but
were extracted by EFCC to misled the court.

When the court went through the documents already admitted,
which included Zenith Bank statement of account, it was discovered
that records from 2010 to 2012 were missing in the documents which
ought to be from 2010 to 2019.

The development which made Justice Dada to query EFCC counsel,
Mohammed Idris and frowned at the agency for lacking diligent
prosecution of corruption cases.

Justice Dada recalled in another instance where there was
disparity in the information in charge sheet and confessional
statements of a defendant been prosecuted by the EFCC.

She recalled that the EFCC in the charge information indicated
alleged fraud of $2,700 while the defendant confessional statement
indicate $10,700.

Subsequently, the judge adjourned further trial till April
7.

Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on
Wednesday expressed concern over the manner officials of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) were handling the
trial of a former Executive Director of the Punch Newspaper,
Azubike Ishekwene.

The judge questioned the integrity of the EFCC prosecuting team
in prosecuting corruption cases saying the lack diligent
prosecution.

Ishekwene and co-defendant Olalekan Abdul are facing an amended
15-count charge, bordering on forgery, conspiracy to forge, using
false documents, making documents without authority and obtaining
money by false pretence before Justice Dada.

During resumed proceedings Wednesday, Kunle Adegoke (SAN),
counsel to Ishekwene had taken up the prosecution witness, Ndubuize
Onyebuchi, a professor of Geology, over the disparity in his claims
for deed of trust.

Adegoke also took him up on his Zenith Bank statement of account
which indicated transfer of shares fund.

Responding, EFCC car ounsel, Idris Mohammed said the defence
cannot question the witness on the documents on the grounds that
they are not certified true copies.

In his reaction, Adegoke, explained to the court that the
documents in contention were part of exhibits already admitted but
were extracted by EFCC to misled the court.

When the court went through the documents already admitted,
which included Zenith Bank statement of account, it was discovered
that records from 2010 to 2012 were missing in the documents which
ought to be from 2010 to 2019.

The development which made Justice Dada to query EFCC counsel,
Mohammed Idris and frowned at the agency for lacking diligent
prosecution of corruption cases.

Justice Dada recalled in another instance where there was
disparity in the information in charge sheet and confessional
statements of a defendant been prosecuted by the EFCC.

She recalled that the EFCC in the charge information indicated
alleged fraud of $2,700 while the defendant confessional statement
indicate $10,700.

Subsequently, the judge adjourned further trial till April
7.