A fourth witness in the ongoing trial of former chief of defence staff, Alex Badeh has given the court reasons why he failed to disclose all that transpired between him and the first prosecution witness to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During his cross examination at the Federal High Court on Wednesday, June 15, Mustapha Yerima said while he was under interrogation at the EFCC, he was only able to remember part of the incident that transpired during the process of acquiring a property for Badeh.
The property located at Wuse 2 area of Abuja was procured for the former defence chief through the Nigerian air force director of finance, Abdullahi Salisu – the first prosecution witness in the matter.
During his cross examination at the Federal High Court on Wednesday, June 15, Mustapha Yerima said while he was under interrogation at the EFCC, he was only able to remember part of the incident that transpired during the process of acquiring a property for Badeh.
The property located at Wuse 2 area of Abuja was procured for the former defence chief through the Nigerian air force director of finance, Abdullahi Salisu – the first prosecution witness in the matter.
“EFCC understood with me when I told them I cannot remember every incident that happened with the period of three years,” Yerima said.
But the defence counsel, Akin Olujimi asked: “Within the timeframe – January 6, 2016 – when you made a statement to the EFCC, are you trying to say that January is nearer to today?”
“Yes,” Yerima replied.
He continued: “Like I said, when I was writing the first statement, I had all the documents related with the transactions and I was confronted with these documents and I also referenced to these documents at that time.”
He further stated that he had to rely on himself (memory) for subsequent statements made to the EFCC.
“Except for the last one where I submitted documents to the commission. The officials that interrogated me told me to write what I could remember,” PW4 said.
In a follow up, the defence counsel asked: “Since you had documents to guide you, why did you omit in the first statement the meeting between you and PW1 which you just told the court?”
Because that was what I could remember,” Yerima answered.
“Is it that you memory gets fresher as you age?” Olujimi continued.
Yerima said: “While I was at the EFCC all the things I said was based on questions put to me.”
The defence counsel continued: “So did I ask you this question about the meeting?”
“No, but the more you ask the more I remember,” the witness said.
Yerima further disclosed that N9,220,100 was paid into his company’s account (Ryte builders Nigeria Limited) from Nigerian air force camp headquarters’ account.
He added that as at the time the payment was made, construction was yet to commence on the property.
Yerima also added that he prepared payment schedule for PW1 – N408 million as mobilization fee.
He said: “These are some of the money that came in for the payment of the pre-contract excesses, remember I said I was to pay Saka N10 million for the drawing he provided.”
Yerima also told the court that he failed to indicate in his statement to EFCC that the N9 million was a pre-contract fee.
Having heard all this, the trial judge, Okon Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday, June 16 for continuation of cross examination and trial.
But the defence counsel, Akin Olujimi asked: “Within the timeframe – January 6, 2016 – when you made a statement to the EFCC, are you trying to say that January is nearer to today?”
“Yes,” Yerima replied.
He continued: “Like I said, when I was writing the first statement, I had all the documents related with the transactions and I was confronted with these documents and I also referenced to these documents at that time.”
He further stated that he had to rely on himself (memory) for subsequent statements made to the EFCC.
“Except for the last one where I submitted documents to the commission. The officials that interrogated me told me to write what I could remember,” PW4 said.
In a follow up, the defence counsel asked: “Since you had documents to guide you, why did you omit in the first statement the meeting between you and PW1 which you just told the court?”
Because that was what I could remember,” Yerima answered.
“Is it that you memory gets fresher as you age?” Olujimi continued.
Yerima said: “While I was at the EFCC all the things I said was based on questions put to me.”
The defence counsel continued: “So did I ask you this question about the meeting?”
“No, but the more you ask the more I remember,” the witness said.
Yerima further disclosed that N9,220,100 was paid into his company’s account (Ryte builders Nigeria Limited) from Nigerian air force camp headquarters’ account.
He added that as at the time the payment was made, construction was yet to commence on the property.
Yerima also added that he prepared payment schedule for PW1 – N408 million as mobilization fee.
He said: “These are some of the money that came in for the payment of the pre-contract excesses, remember I said I was to pay Saka N10 million for the drawing he provided.”
Yerima also told the court that he failed to indicate in his statement to EFCC that the N9 million was a pre-contract fee.
Having heard all this, the trial judge, Okon Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday, June 16 for continuation of cross examination and trial.
