The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has debunked a claim by a witness in the trial of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode that he was forced to lie.
The witness, Ojo Agbor, told the court on 14 May that the commission’s officials beat him up and detained him, forcing him to write a false statement otherwise he would be charged along with Fani-Kayode.
Agbor said someone else gave him various amounts of money to pay into Fani-Kayode’s account, but that EFCC asked him to write that it was the former minister who gave him the money.
“They then told me that I should write that it was Fani-Kayode who gave me the money to deposit. They threatened to make me an accomplice if I don’t write that Fani-Kayode gave me the money. My Lord, I had no option than to write,” Agbor said.
However, EFCC investigator Shuaibu Umar, who handled the case, said Agbor was never forced to make the statement.
He said he discovered that deposits were made by various individuals into Fani-Kayode’s bank account, including one Mark Ndifreke and Agbor.
According to him, Agbor was invited to make an explanation on the monies he paid into Fani-Kayode’s account, adding that he was cautioned before he made the statement.
“He came to our office on his own, voluntarily. It’s not true that Agbor was lured to EFCC, beaten, handcuffed and detained.
“It is not also true that he was beaten up and tortured to write a statement or that he was not allowed to speak to his wife who just had a baby,” he said.
Umar tendered Agbor’s statement, which was admitted in evidence.
During cross-examination, Fani-Kayode’s lawyer Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) asked Umar how many times Agbor came to EFCC.
The witness said Agbor came once, and made his statement the same day.
There was mild drama as Adedipe asked Umar to read the first paragraph of Agbor’s statement.
The paragraph says in part: “In addition to my earlier statement on 26th of December, 2008…” At this point, Adedipe asked Umar to admit that Agbor visited the EFCC more than once.
Umar said he was not aware of the other visits, adding he was only aware that Agbor visited once.
Adedipe said Agbor was kept in EFCC custody for four days, from 26 to 30 December, 2008.
But Umar insisted that Agbor was never held beyond a day, and was indeed granted bail on self-recognition, being a civil servant.
EFCC’s prosecutor, Festus Keyamo said he had one more witness, which is Ndifreke, but that he had been evading service of the court summons to testify.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia said she would not issue a bench warrant until she is convinced that Ndifreke is deliberately avoiding being served.
Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40-count charge of money laundering. The former minister of aviation was said to have laundered about N100,219,500 by paying it into his personal account through some of his associates.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned till 10 July and directed Keyamo to file a further affidavit within seven days on why Ndifreke should be arrested.
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