Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on June 19, 2023, adjourned further hearing in the trial of one Alhaji Usman Abubakar over an alleged N950m fraud till June 23, 2023

Abubakar, alongside Young Alhaji Foundation, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N950 million.

Alhaji Usman pleaded "not guilty" to the charges when he was first arraigned on February 22, 2023.

At the proceedings, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Adeniyi Oyewole, Managing Director, Ano Farms Limited, under cross-examination by counsel for the first defendant, Greg Anumenechi, again, asserted that the said Fawaz forwarded the account details of the second defendant to him.

He testified further that he is an ex-banker who, during his time in the banking sector, dealt in FOREX(foreign exchange).

During the proceedings, the defence sought to tender in evidence the original copies of two statements made by the witness to the EFCC in the course of the investigation. 

However, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, raised an objection to the admissibility of the statements. 

"It is inadmissible, my lord, because it can only be for contradiction; and the defence has not pointed out any contradictions in his testimony," he said.

The objection was sustained by the court. 

According to him, the account details of the second defendant was forwarded to him by Fawaz via WhatsApp. 

He also affirmed that he was the one who applied that a lien be placed on the said account in which the N950 million was credited into.

"Yes, I'm the one that applied that a lien be made because I suspected the transaction, and I also initiated a recall. I did it through my bank," he said.

He testified further that Fawaz told him that the account holder was angry that there was a lien on the account. 

"Dr. Fawaz said his bosses were also angry, and that the second defendant had been instructed to return the money," he said.

He said he told Fawaz that if he received the equivalent in Dollars, as agreed, he would apply that the lien be taken off.

He further noted that it was an audio conversation he had with Fawaz and that it was already before the court as an exhibit. 

The case was adjourned till June 23, 2023, for continuation of trial.