Ime Akpan
An official of Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Ifeoma Okagbue, who is the third prosecution witness in the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Walter Onnoghen for alleged false declaration of assets yesterday told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that it was not true Onnoghen had either $1million or £1million in any of his five bank accounts as alleged.
Okagbue, who stated this in her evidence-in-chief before the Justice Danladi Umar-led CCB sitting in Abuja said she started managing Onnoghen’s bank accounts since 2015.
The PW3 who further gave a load down of both the opening and closing balance of all the accounts from January 2018 to January 2019 said the accounts were all linked to one bank verification number.
She said while being cross-examined by counsel for the defendant, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo that suspended CJN was granted a loan of $500,000 by the bank as of January this year.
She also confirmed that the loan was guaranteed by the suspended CJN’s investments in federal government’s bonds and shares, among others.
She stated that the bank had upon securing an approval from the defendant, diverted funds from the accounts into various profit yielding ventures.
Okagbue told the tribunal that profits that accrued from the investments were credited back into the accounts.
The banker who also said Onnoghen had five accounts, confirmed that the ones in euro, dollar, and pound sterling were domiciliary accounts and not ‘foreign accounts’ stressing that all the accounts were domiciliary and were opened and managed at the branch of the bank in Wuse 2, Abuja.
The conversation between Awomolo and the witness went thus:
Awomolo: The defendant has a facility or loan of $500,000 granted by the bank as of January 2019.
Witness: Yes.
Awomolo: The security for the loans is his investments in Federal Government bonds and other investments such as shares.
Witness: Yes.
Awomolo: The pound sterling, dollars and euro are domiciliary accounts operated in Nigeria not overseas.
Witness: Yes.
Awomolo: The bank encouraged him as a disciplined account holder to invest in some other profit venture.
Witness: Yes.
Awomolo: And interests on these investments are credited back to his accounts.
Witness: Yes.
Earlier, a second prosecution witness who is a retired director at the CCT, Mr. Awal Yakassai, had told the panel that contrary to what was alleged in the media, Onnoghen owned only five houses.
He said it was not true that the CCB investigators linked the ownership of 55 houses to the defendant.
The witness made the disclosure after he was shown copies of Onnoghen’s asset declaration forms, which the federal government tendered in evidence before the CCT.
He said under cross-examination that he served at the CCB for 29 years before he retired in April 2018.
He admitted that the CCB was yet to verify Onnoghen’s assets with a view to finding out if he made false declarations.
Meanwhile, the prosecution closed its case after calling three witnesses.
During the session, counsel for the federal government, Mr. Aliyu Umar, said they he had closed the case despite listing six witnesses.
Umar said the three other witnesses could still be called to the stand if the defence wants to cross-examine them.
Premium Times quotes the lawyer as saying: “I have called three witnesses. If the defence needs them I can call the other three.”
Responding, Awomolo rejected the offer.
“I don’t want them, I don’t want them,” he said.
Awomolo then informed the tribunal that the defence would file a no-case submission but they would need time to write an address.
“We intend to take advantage of section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 on no-case submission.
“If your lordship permits me to write a written address, I’m praying to be given proceedings of 18th and today,” he said.
Thereafter, the three-member panel of CCB ordered Awomolo to serve his address on the prosecution next week Wednesday.
Umar then fixed March 29 as the day counsel will adopt their addresses.
Onnoghen is facing a six-count charge bordering on non-declaration of his asset as required by law.
Aside the allegation that he failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, the federal government had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, also alleged that the suspended CJN operated five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
