DW3, Mr. Aminu Ayuba, the Acting Accountant-General of Taraba State
testified that he did not witness cash payments to the Governor and testified
in regard to the procedure for acknowledging Monies by a Governor or
Government Official and spelt out the Payments he made such as
Maintenance, Medicals, and Payments to Security around the Governor and
such like. He could not recall the amount of Monies he had paid due to length
of time but had never paid any Funds to the Defendant and attributed this
task to the Permanent Secretary, Government House.
DW2, Philip Akolo, the Orderly’s testimony was to confirm that he usually
received Funds on behalf of the Defendant and claimed only to receive his
DTA. He also had not received any large sum of Money on behalf of the
Defendant. He described the protocols around the Defendant, emphasising
that no one could see the Defendant without his knowledge and that of the
ADC and Chief Detail. He was the Custodian of the Keys to the Defendant’s
Bedroom, whenever they were in Abuja and denied that he saw the
Accountant having access to the Bedroom.
Under Cross-Examination, he again explained the security around the
Defendant but stated that he was not privy to any discussions at the
Government House, except that of security. He maintained he was always
with the Defendant as Governor.
The Defendant, testifying on this issue had recognized the need for
Accountability and knew that as far as Government Funds were concerned,
there was no exception to the Non-signing of the Payment Voucher, as every
recipient must sign before receiving the Funds. He accepted that he had
received several Funds that were his entitlements but he did not specify
exactly what categories of entitlement he received.
Under Cross-Examination, when questioned on what his entitlement was
comprised of, he could not recall as his entitlements depended on whatever
was raised in the Memo, and how it was couched, sometimes, it could be
stated as Contingents but the Main Fund is his DTAs. He was also entitled to
travel, car and medicals. He acknowledged Philip Akolo as his authorized
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