A prosecution witness has told Justice Adeniyi
Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja that the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
received over five petitions against former Imo
State governor, Ohakim Ikedi, who was arraigned on
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 on a three-count charge
bordering on money laundering.
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Ohakim is alleged to have made a cash payment of
$2, 290,000.00(Two Million, Two Hundred and
Ninety Thousand Dollars), for a piece of land at Plot
No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District,
otherwise known as No. 60, Kwame Nkurumah
Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
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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, also 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.
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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.
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‘‘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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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dailypost.ng/2015/11/12/we-have-five-strong-evidences-against-ex-governor-ohakim-efcc-tells-court

Can they please get evidences against Rochas Okorocha?
That man is a strategic and annoying thief