Goje’s counsel claims witch-hunt in N25bn graft case

A lawyer defending former Gombe state governor DAnjuma Goje  in a N25 billion corruption case has told the antigraft agency EFCC to stop witch-hunting his client. He include other defendants— Sambo Mohammed Tumu and three others—in his appeal. All face 18-count charge at a Jos federal high court. The lawyer Paul Erokoro’s reaction came after […]

A lawyer defending former Gombe state governor DAnjuma Goje  in a N25 billion corruption case has told the antigraft agency EFCC to stop witch-hunting his client.

He include other defendants— Sambo Mohammed Tumu and three others—in his appeal.

All face 18-count charge at a Jos federal high court.

The lawyer Paul Erokoro’s reaction came after EFCC requested an adjournment when a prosecution witness Yetunde Ofili, a principal manager at CBN was asked to provide written consent letter indicate Gombe had asked money to be lent for seedlings be used for fertilizer instead through Union.

The claim was said to have sent to the CBN.

Four witnesses in June testified Goje’s administration misappropriated N5 billion loan granted by the state assembly to complete infrastructure in the state and N1.4 billion contract for supply of dictionaries to primary and junior secondary school through SUBEB.

EFCC claimed Goje diverted the N1.4 billion loan that was supposed to be lent to farmers to purchase seedlings and not fertilizer, arguing that a written must be given which the EFCC claimed that it wasn’t been sent to CBN.

But during cross examination by Goje’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, Yetunde confirmed that CBN has also received a consent letter for approval from Union bank via Email requesting that the money would then be used to buy fertilizer instead of lending the money to the farmers for seedlings.

 The EFCC prosecuting lawyer, Wahab Shittu requested for his witness to present an approval letter that indicated that the state government has written the consent letter, which the EFCC witness stated that she wasn’t with the letter, because she wasn’t aware that such letter would be asked while in court.       

Erokoro said it is ridiculous that EFCC are still pursuing the matter without basic facts and urged them to stop wasting tax payers’ money in bringing witness, because for seven years the EFCC has known about the said document and didn’t ask for it till after its witness has finished given evidence.

“They are wasting time, and the witness has given the evidence that is bad for their case.” He said.

The EFCC’s counsel, Shittu urged Erokoro to stop scandalizing and denigrating EFCC.

“I am coming from Lagos and I am not enjoying coming to Jos and we have sacrificed a lot, for now let her provide the said document.” He said. 

The case was adjourned to 20thand 21st November, 2017