A prosecution witness in the trial of Aliyu Akwe Doma, former Nasarawa governor, Timothy Anthony Anjide and Dauda Egwa has told Justice Agatha A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lafia that the accused persons authorised payments from the state treasury without any memo.
Akwe-Doma, Anjide and Egwe are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 10 count charge bordering on money laundering.
The witness, Solomon Katsa, a prosecution witness, who is also a former director of finance in the office of the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government who was the fifth prosecution witness, PW5, while being led in evidence by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Anjide, the second accused person, who was the former Secretary to the State Government, was the recipient of the N496m which was released for the voters’ registration exercise in 2011.
The prosecuting counsel presented a memo for release of funds dated January 20, 2011 for the exercise, which was admitted in evidence and told the court that in the course of his duty, he received a message authorising release of funds approved by the former governor to Anjide.
Katsa told the court that the N496 million was processed at the office of the SSG and that no retirement was established for the payment received.
Three payment vouchers were tendered and admitted in evidence as P22 a-c which was for release of funds to Nasarawa State House of Assembly amounting to N270 million. The money was received in cash and acknowledged by Anjide. Again, there was no evidence of retirement of the expenditure.
Katsa told the court that, “in financial regulation, all releases must have backings of memo before payments are made”.
The case has been adjourned to April 20 and 21, 2015 for continuation of hearing.
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