The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday adjourned the alleged fraud trial of Doyin Okupe, former senior special assistant on public affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan till March 5, 2021.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Okupe alongside his two companies, Value Trust Investments and Abrahams Telecoms, on a 59-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million
At the resumption of the trial on Monday, the defence unveiled its fourth witness, Bamidele Salami, a member of the House of Representatives, who served as head of media in the office of the then senior special assistant on public affairs to President Jonathan.
Speaking at the court, being led by Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN, the witness said that “there were approximately 30 staff in different units of the office and that the office was funded by the Presidency through the office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd)”.
He also disclosed that funding in the sum of N10 million was provided on a monthly basis in cash to Doyin Okupe through an officer in ONSA.
Going further, Bamidele disclosed that N3 million was paid for a programme, ‘Insight’ on NTA, to correct the negative perception of the former president.
He also debunked claims that the broadcasting of the programme was done “free of charge” as corporate social responsibility by the NTA.
Meanwhile, during cross examination by the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Audu, the witness was asked whether a weekly publication in the office of the ONSA, The Federalist, was a private company.
The witness, in response, informed the court that The Federalist was not a registered private company with the Corporate Affairs Commission but a publication of ONSA.
He, however, claimed ignorance of any contractual agreement between The Federalist newspaper and the ONSA.
Bamidele also told the court that he dif not have the exact figure of monies that were paid for media engagements, honorarium and other public relations engagements, “but it costs a lot”, he said.
The defence witness’ evidence on the sponsorship of Insight on NTA contradicts the testimony of the first prosecution witness (PW1), Osas Azonabor, an operative of the EFCC, who had told the court “that no receipt was issued for the payment to NTA, however a letter was written to NTA and Investigations further revealed that the programme was aired free of charge as directed by the then Director General of NTA who said the programme was to be seen as the Corporate Social Responsibility of the NTA.”