A witness brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Umar Tahir, who appeared before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Monday contradicted himself under cross examination.
The EFCC witness was being cross-examined by Joe Gadzama, SAN at the ongoing trial of the former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs between 2013 and 2015 in the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, Taminu Turaki.
Turaki, who is facing money laundering charges involving about N854 million, served the country between 2013 and 2015, was arraigned alongside his former Special Assistant, Sampson Okpetu, and two firms; Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited, on 16 counts of money laundering.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants used the companies to launder funds totaling about N845 million allegedly stolen from the two ministries where the minister held sway under the then administration.
But Turaki and Okpetu had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
While giving his evidence-in-chief, Tahir had, on June 23, alleged that Turaki released N200 million to him out of the N359 million approved by former President Jonathan to launder the image of the government through sensitization of Muslim groups in parts of the country in 2014.
However, during a cross-examination at the resumed trial on Monday, Tahir, a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Islamic Affairs in Jonathan’s government told the court that N150 million was transferred to him in tranches while the remaining N50 million was handed to him by Tukari’s aide.
When he was asked how much he had so far paid out of the N67 million the EFCC asked him to refund from the N200 million, the witness said the anti-graft agency only asked him to refund N20 million.
“How much have you refunded so far?” he asked. “I have refunded about N1.7 million,” he responded. But Gadzama disagreed with him, saying from the documented evidence before the court; he had, at three different occasions, paid about N3 million to the EFCC, an allegation Tahir did not object to.
While probing further, Gadzama said: “I put it to you that the entire money, which is N404 million, was released for the project.”
“I am not aware that the total money was N404 million,” Tahir responded.
The lawyer then proceeded to show him the amount from the documented evidence.“N404 million was released for this project from this memo. Do you agree with me; from the exhibits in court?” he asked again.
“I am not aware. I am only concerned with what was given to me and this has been my argument with EFCC,” Tahir replied.
The lawyer asked him what step he took when he saw that N200 million was released to him from the N359 million.
Tahir, however, refused to give a direct answer, insisting that he had to offer an explanation.
“I seek the protection of my lord to offer an explanation,” he said.
“No, this is simple question. You told the court that N359 million was approved to you and you got N200 million. What did you do to get the balance,” the lawyer asked again.
Tahir said: “I asked the minister and he said the release was in tranches and I have no reason to doubt him.”
Justice Ekwo, however, cautioned Tahir when the cross-examination session turned into a heated argument.
“Did you want me to form an opinion about you that you are not cooperating with the evidence?
“Your language is very bad. You need to know you are before the court,” the judge said Ekwo, adjourned the matter until Sept. 22 for continuation of cross-examination and trial.
