have been sued by Salman Global Ventures for tampering with their Funds.
The Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250, 000, 000.00) was
for a specific NEED, and there is not doubt that if the enablement of
performance is shortened or curtailed, certain aspects of the purchase would
have been affected. Funds could only be released by the approval and
direction of the Defendant, who addressed his approval, not to the author of
the Memo, but to a Party that he ought to have known was not his direct
Assignee.
It was only the IPO’s Evidence that stated that the Cheque released to
Salman Global was paid into Salman Global’s Account, and then the Sum of
Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira was paid back. This piece of Evidence
remained unchallenged by the Defence throughout.
The evidence before the Court as rendered through PW6, PW7, PW9 and
PW10, which remain unchallenged is that Salman Global Ventures Nigeria
Limited DID NOT Supply any Stationery and Office Equipment to the
Government of Taraba State.
It was proved by the Prosecution beyond reasonable doubt that what was
issued to Salman Global Ventures Nigeria Limited was a Cheque in the Sum
of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250, 000, 000) belonging to the
Government of Taraba State, which the Defendant, as Governor of Taraba
State, approved the Sum. The Sum only had to be issued on the basis of an
Existing Relationship between the Government of Taraba State through the
Ministry of Finance and Salman Global Ventures Nigeria Limited.
Had there been a Contractual Agreement, then by the Date of Depositing the
Cheque into Salman Global Ventures Nigeria Limited’s Account with Pacific
Bank on the 24th of January 2005, which was liquidated on the 28th of
January 2005, Salman Global needed to have delivered the Stationeries and
Office Equipment ON or BEFORE this Date of Liquidation.
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