An FCT High Court, sitting in Maitama, Wednesday admitted in evidence, statements made by former Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Steve Oronsaye to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Oronsaye was arraigned by the EFCC on a two-counts charge of breach of trust which he allegedly committed between 2013 and 2014 by defrauding the Federal Government of N190m using his position as the then Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Taskforce (FATF).
Prosecution counsel, Offem Uket had through the 6th prosecution witness (PW6), Hamma-Adama Bello tendered five statements allegedly made by Oronsaye during interrogations by the EFCC.
Four of the tendered statements became contentious when defense counsel, Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN) objected to their admissibility on the basis that he will not be able to cross-examine the witness on them since the witness was not the one that signed the cautionary words for the statements.
He said his client will suffer prejudice because of this reason.
He added that “it is suspicious that the prosecution decided not to tender the documents through the first prosecution witness, Ngunnan Kakwagh” who was the officer that signed the cautionary words to the contentious statements.
