Court adjourns Emeka Mba’s trial untill May 24 for cross examination

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday adjourned until May 24, the trial of the former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Emeka Mba, for cross examination.
Mba is on trial alongside former Director of Finance of NBC, Patrick Areh.

Others defendants are Basil Udotai (trading in the name and style of Technology Adviser) and Babatunde Amure (trading in name and style of Divine Partners).

They were arraigned on a 15-count charge of money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N2.8 billion.
At the resumed hearing, a prosecution witness, John Ejim, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said the defendants were arrested based on a petition written by one Oke Nwafor.

Ejim, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Ben Ikani, informed the court that he was one of the EFCC’s investigating officers who searched Mba’s house.

He said during the course of investigation, he found a bank mandate of Zenith Bank of Aug. 10, 2015 allocated to NBC.

The judge admitted the bank mandate in evidence as exhibit, after the prosecution applied for the admissibility of the document.

The defence team, led by S. I. Ameh, however, urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him study the document admitted in court.

He said the document contained some information which he would need to study and be able to cross examine the witness.

Ikani did not oppose the application for adjournment, but urged the court to record that the adjournment was at the instance of the defence team.

The case was adjourned until May 24 for cross examination.