… As Interpreter Stalls Re-Arraignment of Waheed Omotayo , 2
others
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, today May 13, 2015 tendered the result of polygraph test
conducted on Mrs. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke,a former Lagos Court Registrar standing
trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya
Bamaiyi of $300,000.
EFCC's polygraph expert and
prosecution witness, Chinedu Enanya, who addressed the court on the result of
the tests, said they showed that the defendant was deceitful.
According to him,
"the polygraph tests, after each examination, usually show whether
the examinee was truthful or deceitful when asked relevant questions". He
explained that the tests could be pre-texts; in-texts and pro-tests.
In running the tests, Enanya said that
both relevant and irrelevant questions were asked. After the tests, analysis
was done and scores recorded. He said the result showed that Oluronke was
deceitful. A further post-test was conducted to enable the defendant respond to
the outcome of the tests. On the strength of the tests, four documents presented before the court by the prosecution
were admitted as exhibits. The documents are: EFCC polygraph consent
form, certification of identification; copy of polygraph chart and
polygraph report.
Under
cross examination by defence counsel , K. O Osinowo, Enanya said that a
legal representative of the defendant came around for the polygraph test,
but was not allowed into the examination room, so as not to distract the
defendant. He told the court that no further test was conducted after the
polygraph result came out.
Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the
matter till June 8, 9, and 10, 2015 for continuation of trial.
It would be recalled that Ajudua and
the defendant, were initially arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Ipaye,
but the second defendant, who is a public servant requested for separation of
the charges and expeditious trial.
Oluronke, is facing a two-count charge
of
conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence. The EFCC alleged that she helped Ajudua to obtain the money from Bamaiyi between November 2004 and June 2005 while both of them were at Kirikiri Prison for
separate offences, by claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case.
conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence. The EFCC alleged that she helped Ajudua to obtain the money from Bamaiyi between November 2004 and June 2005 while both of them were at Kirikiri Prison for
separate offences, by claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case.
Meanwhile, the planned re - arraignment today, of the trio of Waheed
Omotayo (alias Badmus Mustapha), Giwa Tunde Abiodun and Aghama Peter before
Justice Othman A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo Abuja
on an 8-count charge bordering on forgery, could not go on as the first
accused claimed he does not understand English language.
The case
which started in January 2013 was transferred to Justice Musa following the
retirement of the former trial judge, Justice Buba.
When the
case came up today, the prosecuting counsel Cosmas Ugwu told the court that he
had already obtained leave to prefer charges against the accused persons.
One of the counts read, “That you
Waheed Omotayo (Aka Badmus Mustapha) Giwa Tunde Abiodun and Aghama Peter and
one Mallam Mohammed (still at large) on or about the 23rd of May 2012 in Abuja
within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with
intent to defraud did forge a document titled Embassy of the Arab Republic of
Egypt Entry Visa Application Form in the name of one Badmus Fatimoh Omotoke and
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 362 (a) and punishable under
Section 364 of the Penal Code”.
Another count reads: “That you Waheed
Omotayo (Aka Badmus Mustapha) Giwa Tunde Abiodun and Aghama Peter and one
Mallam Mohammed (still at large) on or about the 18th of May 2012 in Abuja within
the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital territory with intent
to defraud did forge a First Bank of Nigeria Plc Statement of Account in the
name of one Badmus Mustapha Olayemi with Account no 2013715284 and thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 362 (a) and punishable under Section
364 of the Penal Code.”
However,
just as plea was about to be taken, counsel to the first accused Usman Ebere informed
the court that his client, Waheed Omotayo, only understands his native Yoruba language
and would require an interpreter.
Justice
Musa, after ascertaining their bail status which was confirmed by counsel, directed
that the prosecution arrange for an interpreter for the accused and adjourned
the matter to June 24, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment