A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Tuesday, concluded his evidence before a Federal High Court in Lagos, in the ongoing trial of Ayodele Fayose accused of money laundering and fraud to the tune of N2. 2 billion.
Obanikoro said that he was informed about two years ago, that his late Special Assistant (SA) Justin Erukaa, died in an accident.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in a short ruling on Monday admitted the extrajudicial statement of the late Erukaa and marked same as exhibit J.
Tribune Online recalls that Fayose was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 22, 2018, alongside a company Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts.
The former Governor had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court had granted him bail in the sum of N50million with one surety in like sum.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the second defence counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) continued cross examination of Obanikoro who has been in the witness box since January.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in a short ruling on Monday admitted the extrajudicial statement of the late Erukaa and marked same as exhibit J.
Tribune Online recalls that Fayose was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 22, 2018, alongside a company Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts.
The former Governor had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court had granted him bail in the sum of N50million with one surety in like sum.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the second defence counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) continued cross examination of Obanikoro who has been in the witness box since January.
Ojo said: “I suggest that because you were not privy to any such conversation you can’t on your oath, tell the court any date or time of such alleged conversation.”
The witness replied, “correct.”
Ojo said: “In the same exhibit G2 you categorically said that Justin Erukaa died after he had made exhibit J,” the witness replied, “that’s correct.”
Ojo said: ”This Justin Erukaa who was one of your Special Assistant, can you tell the court how you got to know about his death after making exhibit J?”
Obanikoro: ”He left Lagos a day before Sallah about two years ago, and the police called one of my SA that the owner of the phone just had an accident and died on the spot, and he immediately called me and informed me.”
Ojo asked: “Do you remember on February 4, you told the court that you could not recall whether or not Justin Erukaa made any statement to the operatives of the EFCC?”
Witness said: “Yes, I said so”
Defence counsel then urged that exhibit J be showed to the witness. He then asked him, what exhibit J was. Obanikoro replied, “it is a statement”
Defence counsel asked: “Whose name appears as the maker or author of exhibit J?”
The witness replied: “Justin Erukaa.”
Defence counsel asked: ”Did you attend the burial of Justin Erukaa?”
Witness: ”I was there with my family.”
Finally, Ojo asked the witness if any document was provided to the EFCC operatives in the course of interrogation to back any of his statement before the court concerning the second defendant,
The witness replied No.
The prosecution called its sixth witness, Mr Olugboyega Falae, a staff of Ecobank, who said he had worked in Skye bank, (now Polaris), as Head of Estate Support Department.
On what he knows about the property known as No. 44, plot 1241, Osun Crescent Maitama, Abuja, the witness told the court that one of the responsibilities of his unit was to dispose of non-core assets of the bank, that are excess to requirements.
He said that the property was one of such assets, which was sold at the time, after acquiring requisite approvals.
He said that in the case of the said property, one Mrs Titiloye approached the bank with an N300 million offer for the property adding that there were discussions and exchange of letters between them before the property was eventually sold for N200 million.
After the witness finished his evidence before the court, he was cross-examined by defence counsel, but there was no re-examination from prosecution.
The court has adjourned until Wednesday for the continuation of trial.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose was said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
TRIBUNE
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