The
Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 23, 2013,
told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
that three more witnesses will be presented in the trial of top executives of
Transnational Corporation, TRANSCORP, Plc.
The
officials who are being prosecuted before Justice S.C. Chukwu are Thomas
Iseghohi, Group Managing Director, Muhammed Buba, Company Secretary and Mike
Okoli, Deputy General Manager on a thirty two count charge of criminal
conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, money laundering and misappropriation of
public funds to the tune of Fifteen Billion Naira.
The
trio were arraigned on Wednesday May 27, 2009. They were alleged to have
between July 2007 and March 2009, while acting in their official capacities
defrauded the corporation through issuance of sham contracts, payment of legal
fees, consultancy fees, professional fees, adverts and public relations
involving several billions of naira.
At
the resume hearing, Sylvester Ogbelu, prosecution counsel, led Mr. Max Ogah,
the third prosecution witness who testified before the court during cross
examination, that he never have evidence of performance for those services that
was paid for.
The
answer was sequel to a question whether Ogah had any evidence of payment by
Transcorp to communication companies for their services and whether it was
inflated.
He
further said “over my twenty years as a chartered accountant there are criteria
and standard that is followed when billing, if it is necessary and reasonable
for the benefit of the company. To me some of the expenses we paid were not
part of that question; I never have evidence of performance for those services
that were paid”.
When
the EFCC counsel informed the court of his motion dated July 25, 2013, to
present three more witnesses, J.N. Ogwunu, defense counsel to the second
accused person objected to the motion as he argued that the prayers in the
motion papers were not supported by the evidences in the application and ask
the Court to reject the application.
Justice
Chukwu granted the application but told the prosecution to avoid delay in the
interest of justice. He, however, adjourned the case to November 11, 2011 for
continuation of hearing.
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