The immediate past Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday, failed to appear before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo Giwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, to explain his role in the approval of N2.5 billion to Pinnacle Communications Ltd, for the execution of the Federal Government Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
The court had slated Wednesday to continue the trial of the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Kawu Modibbo, Pinnacle Communications Ltd and two others.
The former Information Minister was among the persons listed by the prosecution counsel, Henry Emore in ICPC’s list of additional witnesses and was expected to be in court to give testimony, being the Minister who approved the payment of N2.5bn to Pinnacle.
However, after calling two witnesses, the prosecution counsel informed the court that he was to call the former Information Minister but for his absence, adding that
Lai Mohammed had travelled out of the country but is being expected back, on or before July 31.
In addition, the court was told that Mohammed had finally made a statement before ICPC, as a former Minister.
The prosecution also informed the court that the other witness he intended to call, are still in Saudi Arabia.
However, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), counsel to Onifade Oladipupo (2nd defendant) and Sir Lucky Omoluwa (3rd defendant) told the court that he had already filed an application to oppose the list of additional witness filed by the prosecution counsel.
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Izinyon said the defence team had already joined issues with the prosecution on the failure of ICPC to call the former Information Minister who approved the payment of N2.5bn to Pinnacle as well as join him as a defendant in the case.
Earlier, upon cross-examination by Izinyon, a prosecution witness Olugbemi Abraham, told the court that, “During the investigation, we could not interview the then minister of Information because he said he needed clearance from the Secretary to Government of the Federation”.
Abraham, however, revealed that they later took a statement from Lai Mohammed during the pendency of the case, admitting that, “Really, we did not bother to get in touch with the SGF to enable him to allow the Information Minister to make a statement.”
Abraham admitted that NBC, based on the provision of the White Paper that government should provide a condition for a level playing field for signal distributors, is the one that would determine the level playing field.
Under further cross-examination by Amah Etuwewe, counsel to the 4th defendant (Pinnacle Communications), the witness said upon investigation, they did not value the facility put in place by Pinnacle at the Abuja DSO site.
Furthermore, the witness admitted that the N2. 5bn was released under the supervision of the Information Minister, adding that “To the best of my knowledge, the Presidency that released the N10bn to the NBC for the purpose of DSO has not complained of how the fund was used, and I am not aware if the Minister had withdrawn his approval”.
Meanwhile, the trial Judge, Justice Ogunbanjo Giwa has adjourned to July 1st, ruling on a motion by the 2nd and 3rd defendant seeking the release of their international passports to enable them to travel abroad for an official function.