EFCC objects to delay cross examination of witness in trial of former NAMA MD

Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecutor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday opposed the application for adjournment brought by the defence lawyers in the ongoing trial of the embattled former Managing Director (MD) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, for them to cross-examine the first prosecution witness, Ade Babatunde, adding it was brought in bad fate.

Oyedepo insisted that the proof of evidence which has all the statement of the witness had been served on the defence team since July 2016.

Oyedepo posited that in view of the fact that the defendants had been served with proof of evidence long before now, it therefore cannot be said that the defendants had not been given enough time to put their house in order with respect to the cross examination of Babatunde.

Oyedepo thereafter urged the court to throw out the application for adjournment to enable the defence lawyers have ample time to prepare for the cross-examination of the witness.

Prior to this time, the defence lawyers had prayed the court to grant an adjournment for them to be well prepared to cross-examine the first prosecution witness.

In continuation of his evidence in chief, Babatunde had told the court how funds belonging to NAMA were allegedly converted by some officials of the agency, when Abdulsalami wasthe MD of NAMA.

Babatunde informed the court that on July 13, 2015, a cash withdrawal to the tune of N3 million was made by the agency’s former General Manager of Finance, Segun Agbolade, from the account of Randville investment Ltd, and another was a cash transfer of N4 million to Segun Agbolade from same account.

“On July 15, 2015, there was a withdrawal of the sum of N2.5 million from the account of Randville investment Ltd and same transferred to the account of Segun Agbolade.

“On September 16, 2015, there was a credit transfer of N22, 000, 100 into the account of Randville investment Ltd.

“On September 28, 2015, a sum to the tune of N100, 823, 560.80, was deposited in a fixed deposit account and on maturity, same was paid into the account of Randville investment Ltd.

“On the same date, N28 million was transferred out of the account, but I cannot confirm the beneficiary because it was not stated on the statement of account.

“Still on September 28, 2015, N100 million was placed in another fixed deposit account.

“On October 28, 2015, the N100 million earlier placed in a fixed deposit account was paid into the account of Randville investment Ltd as N100, 813,698.63.

“On November 2, 2015, N50 million was transferred twice from Randville investment Ltd and I cannot confirm the beneficiary because it is not stated on the statement.

“Then on November 10, 2015, there was a withdrawal of N3 million from the account of Randville investment Ltd by Segun Agbolade,” the witness said.

At the last proceedings, the EFCC explained to Justice Babs Kuewumi, as to how funds belonging to the agency were allegedly converted by some officials of the agency, when Abdulsalam was the MD of NAMA.

The EFCC made this known through its witness, Babatunde, who is a staff of Stanbic IBTC Bank at the resumed trial of the former NAMA boss who was charged over alleged conversion of funds to the tune of N6.8 billion.

The former NAMA MD was dragged to court alongside a former General Manager of Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite, and a former General Manager of Finance, Segun Agbolade, and former Acting General Manager of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido, Sesebor Abiodun, and Joy Adegorite.

Equally dragged before Justice Kuewumi are two Ltd Liability companies; Randville investment Ltd, and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had on April 7, 2016 docked the former NAMA boss alongside others on the alleged offences.

But they all pleaded not guilty and were accordingly granted bail.

Thereafter, the charge was amended to include three more persons, prompting their re-arraignment on April 12, 2016.

But they still pleaded not guilty to the amended charge and were admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

According to the amended charge, the anti-graft agency had raised an allegation that on August 19, 2013, the defendants conspired to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

It was equally the contention of the EFCC, that between January 2 and December 17, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N191 million owned by NAMA, to their private use.

The accused were equally accused of converting N728 million between 2013 and 2015, as well as other sums.