A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed June 6 to rule on an application by a former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking to stop a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Romanus Madu, from giving evidence on a document which was alleged to have been forged.
The former Governor and two others are standing trial over alleged fraud.
He denied authoring a statement requesting for the sum of N30.8 million bank draft in the course of his duties as a cashier in Abia State Government House in 2005.
“This is my name on it but I was not the person who wrote it. This is not my handwriting and my signature is not there too,” he said.
Afterwards, the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo showed him two other applications for bank drafts written by Obasi John and Ogbonna J.
He however denied knowing any of the two individuals at Abia State Government House.
“I don’t know anything about bank drafts. I normally collect cash and hand it over to my boss. I also do not know any person bearing Obasi John or Ogbonna J. at government house,” he said.
Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN) contended that Jacobs’ action was against the Evidence Act.
He further argued that the witness cannot be asked to compare signatures of persons he claimed he did not know.
Lawyer to the 3rd defendant (Slok Nigeria Ltd), K. C. Nwofo (SAN), also argued that it is only an expert that can be asked questions on the contentious issue.
However, in his response, EFCC’s counsel, insisted that the witness is highly qualified to give evidence on the statement he allegedly wrote and signed.
According to him, evidence with regards to handwriting is not an exclusive preserve of an expert.
After listening to the arguments of parties in the matter, Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned till Tuesday for ruling on whether the witness is competent to give evidence.
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