NAN-H-126
Oronsaye
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the prosecution in the ongoing trial-within-trial of Mr Stephen Oronsaye, a former Head of Service, to focus on how a witness’s statement is obtained, not its content.
The ruling followed an objection raised by Mr Oluwale Aladedoye, counsel to Osarenkhoe Afe , the second defendant, during cross-examination by the prosecutor, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe,nregarding the line of questioning.
Oluwale had objected to Atolagbe asking the defendant questions regarding the content of the statement, saying the only questions relevant were those related to circumstances surrounding how the statement was obtained.
Justice Gabriel Kolawale in his ruling agreed with the defendant that questions with regards to content were not relevant.
Kolawale said that the questions that were relevant for the purpose of the trial-within-trial were questions that were limited to the circumstances surrounding how the statement was obtained and not the content of the statement.
He adjourned till Nov. 23 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
Kolawale had ordered a trial-within-trial to ascertain the veracity of the claim of the second defendant, that his statement was obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under duress.
The first prosecution witness, Miss Roukayya Ibrahim, an operative of EFCC, however, told the court on June 21 that the statement written by Afe on Feb. 24, 2011 was obtained from him without duress or oppression.
Oronsaye is standing trial for money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
He is being tried with Afe and four companies – Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited. (NAN)
WS/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha