By Tobi Soniyi
A witness in the trial of former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-governor lied when he told investigators that he earned dollars from a transaction between them.
The witness, Scott Tommey, a Port-Hacourt-based businessman, admitted buying Ohakim’s land in Maitama, Abuja, in 2012, but insisted that he made payment for the purchase neither in naira nor US dollars cash, but through bank transfer.
Ohakim, who served as Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011, is being prosecuted on a three-count charge of money laundering and false asset declaration.
He is accused of purchasing a property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, with cash payment of $2.29 million which was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.
Ohakim was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.
The ex-governor had, in one of his statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), marked “Exhibit EFCC 3,” claimed to have bought the No. 60 Kwame Nkwumah street property with the dollars equivalent of N250m allegedly paid him by Tommey for the Maitama land.
Testifying as the 6th prosecution witness yesterday Tommey said: “It is totally false that he (the defendant) claimed that I paid him in US dollars. I paid through fund transfer. I never paid in cash. It was through funds transfer.”
The witness, who was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Festus Keyamo, gave details of how he was introduced to Ohakim and how the transaction was executed.
Tommey said he met the defendant just once, but knew him as the former governor of Imo State.
“He had a property in Maitama, which was up for sale. And I was in search of a property to develope. I had an agent, who got the property, which was the former governor’s land.
“The agent introduced me to him sometime in 2012. We bided and there was need to meet with the owner of th property.
“I met him and we agreed to a total cost of N250m, which was paid to him through my bank. I paid for the property through bank transfer From Sterling to Fidelity Bank. I paid in naira.”
The witness confirmed a document from his company’s banker, Sterling Bank, for the transfer instruction from his company, Marypinch Ltd to Sir Ikedi Ohakim for the sum of N250m only.
When asked by Keyamo how he will react to Ohakim’s claim in one of his statements to the EFCC that the witness paid in dollars, Tommey said “It is totally false that he (the defendant) claimed that I paid him in US dollars. I paid through fund transfer. I never paid in cash. It was through funds transfer.”
On cross-examination by Ohakim’s lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), the witness said he met Ohakim only once.
He said “we never mentioned dollars in our transaction. It was agreed that it was going to be a bank transaction.”
The witness said he did not meet Ohakim in EFCC custody, as they were never made to confront each others.
Tommey said he was never confronted in the presence of the defendant in connection with the alleged transaction in US dollars.
FURTHER DETAILS LATER
