Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo of Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, threw out the application of Patrick Areh, the second defendant in the trial of the former director-general of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Emeka Mba, and four others for alleged N2.9billion fraud, according to the press release issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
EFCC said that Mba and Areh, alongside Basil Udotai, Babatunde Amure, and a company, Technology Advisors are facing prosecution by the EFCC, for alleged diversion of N2.9 billion, meant for the purchase of setup boxes for digital switch-over from analogue broadcasting in the country.
The application had sought the rejection of the testimony of Abubakar Madaki, a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
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Judge Ogunbanjo stated there was no reason why the testimony should not be admitted in evidence since the applicant failed the test of the burden of proof in the trial.
“I, therefore, overrule the second defendant’s objection to the admissibility of the statement; such is to be tendered in evidence. The said statement is therefore tendered and marked accordingly,” the judge said.
EFCC said the NBC fraud case was adjourned till March 9, 10, 23, and 24, 2021, for the continuation of the trial. Are’s application failed for his failure to prove his claim that he did not write his statements in EFCC’s office out of his own volition but was traumatized and coerced by Madaki into doing so.
By: Ifunanya Ikueze