PW14, Mr. Dandison Akurunwa Esq., the Company Secretary also spoke of
the Defendant’s Relationship with Salman Global Ventures and had stated
that his Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer knew the Defendant well.
He also had met the Defendant in the course his Company’s other
Transactions with the Taraba State Government. It is to be presumed that he
had nothing to lose by this assertion.
The Documentary Exhibits before the Court also speaks to this relationship,
as seen in theExhibit Z7, the Extra-Judicial Statement of Alhaji Ibrahim
Abubakar, tendered strangely by the Defendant through one of the
Prosecution Witnesses, where he spoke of an intention of the Defendant to
Purchase his Personal House, which was confirmed when Alhaji Tutare said
the Defendant told him that Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar had persistently
worried him over the Payment, and the Injection of ‘Alhaji Imam’ was made
in this Statement, and also made by the Defendant in his Statement as well.
The Bank Statement of Salman Global Ventures, in Exhibit H also validates a
Steady Relationship between Salman Global and Taraba State Government as
Payments can be seen from Taraba State Government therein.
The Defendant in his Extra-Judicial Statement, Exhibit Z6, had succinctly
admitted that he had received benefits, when he offered to discuss with
Alhaji Tutare and make necessary repayments and when he later said Alhaji
Tutare informed him that refunds were made. Also, when he threw the
proposition of Plea Bargain. It is difficult to imagine that Plea Bargain moves
would be suggested if there was no Element of Guilt. Circumstantially, there
was Alhaji Tutare, Mrs. Asabe, and the IPOs, who testified in regard to their
Investigative Activities. There was no challenge on their ability to do a
Competent Job, and they were independent of not only the Transaction, but,
of Taraba State Government. As earlier held, their Testimonies before the
Court do not constitute Hearsay and it could only therefore be shaken by an
effective Cross-Examination.
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