Mr. Nev, who handed the Committees that comes to the fore in validating the
Defendant’s Claim.
Now Mr. Nev on his own part, has stated that he was not aware of, and was
not part of any Committee in respect of this Visit, thereby directly
contradicting the Defendant’s assertions. His closest statement was when he
had testified in Chief, stating that the Defendant directed him to bring the
Monies to his Office for “Designated Officers”, who would carry out their
duties in regard to the Presidential Visit.
Under Cross-Examination, Mr. Nev had acknowledged that such an
important Event would usually entail setting up Teams from different
Departments such as; Information, Logistics and Securities, to organize and
ensure the success of the Event, and added that his own responsibility
stopped at the Government House. His Job Function was only to implement
Policies, Programmes and Decisions of the Government of the day and
generally Coordinate and Supervise Staff in ensuring a Smooth
Administration of Government House.
Whilst admitting that he raised the various Heads of Expenses and the
particular Agencies relevant to carry out those Assignments, he did not have
the details of the responsibility of the Officers involved, as wider
Assignments of this nature are handled at the discretion of the Chief
Executive, the Secretary to the State Government and other Top State
Government Functionaries.
The Defendant, under Cross-Examination agreed with the Prosecution that
the above was the Normal Procedure but stated that it was not a Mandatory
Procedure because he could assign any Officer/Individual to receive a
Visitor, depending on the timing and the manner of the Visit. Where time is
not a factor, it would be through the Secretary of the State Government. He
admitted having a Secretary to the State Government, whose name was Mr.
Zaku, and agreed that it was Mr. Zaku’s responsibility to receive Visitors in
this instance.
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