The trial of Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Jigawa State governor, who is being prosecuted on a 27-count charge alongside his two sons, Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido, and two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, resumed on Tuesday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, with the EFCC presenting two more witnesses.
The trial of Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Jigawa State governor, who is being prosecuted on a 27-count charge alongside his two sons, Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido, and two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, resumed on Tuesday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, with the EFCC presenting two more witnesses.
At the last sitting, the witnesses who testified as PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4 respectively were: 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.
Testifying today, the prosecution witness, PW5, Ibrahim Nasir, a Business Development Officer with Skye Bank Plc, Jigawa State, said he appeared in court after his bank was subpoenaed.
Nasir, who was led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Chile Okoroma , presented the account opening packages of Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited to the court.
The documents were tendered and admitted as evidence by the court.
Also, prosecution witness, PW 6, Mr. Chike Obi, a Business Manager with Diamond Bank Plc., presented the account opening packages for Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company and Interior Woodworks to the court.
The documents were also tendered and admitted as evidence by the court.
When counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi, SAN, asked Nasir, during cross-examination, if the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th accused persons were signatories to the account, he answered in the negative.
Also, when asked if Mustapha Sule Lamido had ever told him that the money coming into Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited was "bribe money" for the 1st accused , Sule Lamido, Nasir said ‘‘No’’.
Justice Ademola adjourned the case to January 27 and 28, 2016 for continuation of trial.
Lamido allegedly abused his position as Governor between 2007 and 2015 by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as front.
The former Governor was equally alleged to have collected kickbacks from contractors in the state, with the funds allegedly paid into accounts that were managed by his sons.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
15th December, 2015