$40m contract: EFCC’s attempt to file fresh evidence stalls Jonathan’s cousin trial

The trial of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, his wife, Stella and a company, Oneplus, was stalled yesterday for the second time over Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s attempt to file fresh evidence.

The suspects were standing trial for over a $40million contract before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Although the defendants were ready to take on EFCC operative, David Nkpe, who appeared as the 10th prosecution witness, counsel to the prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, again pleaded with the judge, just as he did on Wednesday, to grant him permission to attend to another matter in another court.

There was a heated debate between the two parties when the prosecution tried to introduce some documents which were not listed in the proof of evidence and served on the defendants as required by the court, which the defendants objected to the move.

The development forced the judge to stand down the matter for one hour to enable the prosecution to furnish the defendants with the “fresh evidence.”

But upon resumption, the EFCC counsel asked the judge for permission to attend to another matter in a different court.