Court Orders EFCC To Produce Its Witness, A Forensic Expert For Continuation Of Money Laundering Case Against Sarah Ochekpe

Yakubu Busari

A Federal High Court sitting in Plateau state has ordered the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to produce one of the principal witness for continuation of hearing into the suit of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds by the former minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe .

 

 

The absence of a witness who is a Forensic Expert from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has stalled the alleged N450 million money laundering case against former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe and two others.

 

 

In the suit FHC/J/141C/2017O, Ochekpe and former acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Raymond Dabo and the state campaign coordinator of 2015 Goodluck Jonathan, Leo-Sunday Jitong .

 

The three accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy amounting to N450 million.

 

Although Forensic Expert was absence in court during proceeding on Friday 29th March, 2019, but the counsel to the EFCC, Ahmad Muntaka told court that their witness was held for three days  at Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to give an evidence regarding another case

“Our witness is a Forensic Expert who is supposed to be here.

 

However, now he is at Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state to give evidence and cannot make it here,

 

“It is our constraint, we seek for adjournment to enable him come to court and give his evidence in this case.” .

 

 

Barr Sunday Oyawole who is the ex-minister Sarah Ochekpe’s counsel didn’t oppose the request for adjournment because, “The prosecuting counsel did explain to us about his challenge and we didn’t oppose it.”

 

 

Gyang Zi a counsel to the third defendant – state campaign coordinator of 2015 Goodluck Jonathan, Leo-Sunday Jitong- opposed the request for the adjournment urging the Court to foreclose the case due to failure of the EFCC to prosecute their case.

 

 

The presiding judge, Musa Kurya adjourned the case to 4pm to enable the EFCC’s witness to come from Uyo and give his evidence, but after 30 minutes, then adjourned the case to April 15th for definite hearing.

 

 

The former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe is facing trial on N450m election fund under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.