A former Executive Director of News, Nigeria Television Authority, (NTA) Sola Atere on Wednesday told the Federal High Court Abuja that he did not sign any budget proposal for the programme “Insight” on the Nigeria Television Authority, (NTA).
Atere who is also an EFCC witness in the ongoing trial of Doyin Okupe, disclosed this while undergoing cross examination by Joe Gadzama, (SAN).
Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan is facing trial bordering on misappropriation of over N200 million suit filed against him.
During the cross examination, Atere said, “I have no financial relationship with the programme and I never collected money from the office of the first defendant for the programme. The producer will be in a better position to speak on this,” .
He also told the court that he was not aware if Okupe paid money for the programme.
When confronted with the document which had details of payment for the programme with his signature on it, the witness said that he did not remember signing such a document.
He said although the signatures looked similar, there was a slight variation.
The trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, at that juncture asked the witness to sign his signature on a piece of paper several times for the court’s record.
The witness further told the court that the programme was not a political programme but one designed to promote policies of the government.
Speaking to journalists, Gadzama said although Atere denied signing the document, the truth would eventually be revealed.
Okupe is currently facing a 59-count charge for allegedly receiving over N200 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki without offering any services.
