Politics

N4.9bn Fani-Kayode'a Trial: Eyewitness Reveals Ministry Paid N800m To Ghost Contractor

Published

5 years ago

Oct 29, 2019.

One of the prosecutions witness, Shehu Shuaibu, has revealed that the ministry of External Affairs paid N800m to ghost contractor as he testified in the on going N4.9bn trial of the former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
The trial of the former aviation minister along three others resumed hearing today (Tuesday) at the Lagos Federal High Court before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.
Joint Trust Dimensions Limited is the 4th defendant in the charge, in which a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman; Fani-Kayode; and one Danjuma Yusuf, were listed as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the 17 count charges levied against them.
At the Tuesday’s proceedings, Shuaibu, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, identified Exhibit E8 as the statement of account of Joint Trust Dimensions Limited.
The witness said he found, from the statement of account, an inflow of N800m from the Ministry of External Affairs on January 16, 2015.
Shuaibu told the court that one Darbisu and one Benjamin were signatories to the firm’s account.
He identified the two signatories as ex-officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that they currently work with the National Intelligence Agency.
Under cross-examination, Shuaibu agreed with the first defence counsel, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), that “neither of the defendants had any input in making entries in Exhibit E8.”
Justice Aikawa adjourned till October 31, 2019 for continuation of trial.