The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
presented four witnesses to testify against former governor of Jigawa state,
Alhaji Sule Lamido in the money laundering case against him in court.
The commission presented their case against Lamido yesterday
in a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Lamido and his two sons Aminu Sule
Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido and two others were presented before Justice
Adeniyi Ademola.
The appearance of the witnesses commenced the formal trial
of the accused persons who are being prosecuted on a 27-count charge. Four of
the witnesses are: Longji Tupkop, a relationship manager with United Bank of
Africa, UBA; Kabir Mashi, regional manager, Unity Bank Plc, Kano North;
Mustapha Baba and Onyiche Agbaghara of Unity Bank Plc and Keystone Bank were
the witnesses who testified as PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4 respectively.
Appearing before the court, one of the witnesses, Tupkop
while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, informed
the court that his presence was to reveal account statements for one of the
bank's customers: Dantata and Sawoe Constrution Company.
According to Tupkop, on 23rd of April 2013 a clearing cheque
of over N7m (seven million) in favour of Bamaina Holdings Limited, another
cheque of over N7m (seven million naira) in favour of Speeds International
Limited and yet another cheque of over N7million in favour of Gada
Construction. He revealed that the same set of cheques were however paid to all
the three companies on the 26th April 2013.
After Tupkop's submission, Mashi took over to testify
against Lamido, saying that his bank was summoned in court to tender the
statement account and account opening packages of Speeds International Limited,
Bamaina Holdings Limited and Alhaji Sule Lamido.
This move was attacked by Joe Agbi, SAN, who contested that
the Subpoena was specific about which documents to bring without seeking first
the courts approval. He asked the court to disapprove the document.
Okoroma countered that the document's relevance makes it
admissible and urged the court to overrule the objection of the defence. The
Judge granted his prayer and admitted the document in evidence because it was relevant
and admissible. The case was adjourned till November 24 and 25 for further
hearing.
The EFCC charged Lamido and his sons for alleged abuse of
power, corruption and money laundering while he was governor of Jigawa state
between 2007 and 2015.
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