Alleged N304m Fraud: Court Fixes June 20 For Adoption Of Final Addresses In Trial Of Ex NIMASA D-G
A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, fixed June 20, for adoption of final addresses in the trial of a former Acting Director General of NIMASA, Haruna Babajauro, standing trial over alleged N304 million fraud.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned the case for adoption of addresses, after the defence informed the court that it had closed its case.
Jauro assumed leadership of the Nigerain Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), after an erstwhile Director General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
He is charged by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with one Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd.
They are standing trial on 19 counts bordering on theft, fraudulent conversion of NIMASA’s property to their private use and Money laundering.
They were arraigned on April 12, 2016, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court had admitted them to bail in the sum of five million naira each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The prosecution has since closed its case, after conclusion of a trial-within-trial ordered by the court at the instance of the defence, and had called five witnesses.
The defence, consequently, opened its case.
On Monday, Mr A.O Mohammed announced appearance for the prosecution while Mr M.Y Chiwar appeared for the first and second defendants
Defence then recalled a third prosecution witness, (PW3) Mr Barnabas Ishaku, who had earlier testified before the court, for examination.
Defence counsel asked the witness: “You remember you told this court on June 8, 2016 that you were Personal Assistant to the first defendant while he was Acting Director General of NIMASA,”
The witness replied Yes.
Defenice counsel then called for three exhibits G. H, and I and asked the witness to identify if they were Memos from the Directorate of Finance and Administration of the Agency, and the witness replied No.
The witness added that there were no stamps evidencing same and no such Memo was received by his office.
On how correspondences are received, the witness told the court that two clerical officers receives incoming memo and stamp same as incoming and when going out stamps them as outgoing.
When asked to identify if exhibits G, H and I were stamped as either received or outgoing, he replied that they were not stamped.
After this last question. the court asked the prosecutor if there was any reexamination, and he replied No.
Defence counsel then informed the court that he had closed the case for the defence.
Consequently. the court adjourned until June 20, for adoption of final addresses.
NAN reports that after adoption of final addresses, the court is expected to deliver judgment.
The defendant were charged with committing the offence in NIMASA between January 2014 and September 2015.
During trial the defence called three witnesses. (NAN)
