took place approximately a Year and a Month ago and his testimony
rendered in Court approximately Eleven Years were no different. At the time
of making this Exhibit Z12, he was not only cautioned by the EFCC when he
wrote the Statement but he freely and of his own volition, divulged the
content of his Extra-Judicial Statement and signed it.
Exhibit Z9that was mentioned by this Witness, as having been obtained
under Duress, does not have any bearing on the Case against the Defendant.
This is because the content of the Statement does not state any fact material
to the essential evidence, or narrative this Witness rendered before the
Court, with regard to the Purchase of Stationeries. It is only evidence of the
Corrupt Over or Under Payment of the Proceeds of Crime, and as can be seen
therefrom, Alhaji Tutare undertook to refund the Sums. During his Evidence
in Chief, he confirmed this Evidence, further stating that when he was
confronted with the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Maiangwa at the EFCC, she
denied receiving the Sum of Forty Million Naira he allegedly gave her,
insisting that all she received was the Sum of Eight Million Naira. He
therefore had to undertake to refund the Balance.
When this Statement was taken, it is observed that this Witness did not
immediately challenge the Undertaking he made to be obtained by Duress,
and it curious that the other Statement made by him on the same day, the
17th of November 2005, in Exhibit Z8, wherein he narrated how the Funds
of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira was spent, but did not complained to
have been made it under Duress. He was clearly comfortable, and was with
his faculties when he made it, and therefore did not query it.
Another Challenged Exhibit is Exhibit Z10, which is dated the 24thof
November 2005, wherein he stated inter alia, as follows“…I freely elect to
state as follows: -… 24/12/05 Further to the Statement I gave to the EFCC
on the 18th of November 2005 I wish to add as follows; that I have paid
the sum of Seven Million Naira in Zenith Bank Draft No. 01615868 being
part of the Thirty Two Million Naira I am supposed to refund. The Cheque
is in favour of the EFCC…”
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