ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja on Tuesday that the son of the former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohaki (Emeka Ohakim) is threatening and intimidating one of its witnesses in the corruption and money laundering case brought against his father.
Ohakim, who was Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011 is facing three counts of money laundering charges arising from his alleged
purchase of House 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja.with cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.
He was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.
The prosecution said the offences bordering on cash payment of N270m violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2004.
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At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said the EFCC witness, Mr. Abu Sule who had testified before the court on how he allegedly helped Ohakim to illegally acquire the huge edifice at Asokoro in Abuja, called him at about 9pm on Monday and informed him about Ohakim’s second son, Emeka Ohakim who came to the witness’ office at Asokoro and made enquiries about his (Sule) residential address.
Keyamo said: “The witness called me around 9am yesterday (Monday) that the second son of the accused person came to the his office at Asokoro and made inquiries about the residence address of the witness. He asked three people. He asked one Itakpo, Okoh (taxi drivers) and one Architect Sola, which they refused to show him.”
He said he wanted to consult the defence, but that the matter was not the issue of counsel to counsel because the defence cannot protect the witness. “It is the court that can make words of caution to the other party,” Keyamo said.
In his reaction, Okakim’s legal team led by Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN) vehemently opposed the allegation raised by Keyamo. Kalu said: “We want to register our approach to an issue that should have been settled somewhere.
“I have no doubt that this allegation was meant for the purpose of destabilising the defence. When the court stood down he had the opportunity to discuss the issue with either the counsel or the father
of the son, but he didn’t raise any caution.
“In African tradition, when a young boy misconducts himself, the attention of his parents should be drawn to it.
“We find this issue very disturbing. It is on record that the PW2 testified on November 2, 2015 and only yesterday, the young man would go and find out the residence of the witness.
“Since Keyamo refused to give the defence opportunity to investigate the matter, we urge the court to dismiss this story,” Kalu said.
As tempers flared between both parties, Keyamo stood up and loudly said: “I will not sit down and watch him cast denting words against me. I will never treat the issue of threat to life in private that is
my position.”
In his intervention over the disagreement that ensured, Justice Ademola said the issue ought to have been brought to his chambers.
“Let us adjourn this matter till tomorrow (Wednesday) when tempers are calm at 12pm.
“Having regard to what transpired in court, this criminal charge is hereby adjourned to January 27 for trial,” Justice Ademola said.
It would be recalled that the EFCC witness had testified before the court how he reportedly helped Ohakim to conceal the ownership of a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, which he said the ex-governor bought with $2.29m in November 2008. Sule was the managing director of Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd, the company allegedly used by Ohakim to conceal his ownership of the property.
Sule, who is the second prosecution witness in the case, had told Justice Adeniyi Ademola, that the former governor instructed him to use his (Sule’s) company, Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd, to buy the
property.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Sule, who described Ohakim as his “senior friend and benefactor”, said Ohakim subsequently put pressure on him to prepare a tenancy agreement in order to conceal the former governor’s ownership of the house.
Sule said, “Before November 2008 he requested that I buy him a house that we could buy in Aokoro.
“When we found one for him at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street in Asokoro we told him and he trusted my judgment on it. I told him the price was
N270m and he provided me with the money about $2.29m or thereabout in cash.
“I collected the money from him at Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro at night. The money was in cash in one tranche and he said
that I should use it to pay for the house, 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro.
“The following day, I called Alhaji Muktari Isa Maidabino, then we met at Unity Bank, Maitama. Alhaji Muktari Maidabino said he had loan
with the bank, so he offset the loan and retrieved the documents. When I collected the tittle documents I informed Chief Ohakim so that he
could give us the name we were to use for the deed of assignment and power of attorney.
“After a little delay he said I should use my company name, Tweenex Consociates H.D Ltd for the deed of assignment and power of attorney.
“We did as he said and I signed the sales of agreement and deed of assignment,” Sule disclosed.