Witness recounts how SAN bought N8m BMW car for Justice Ademola

The first of the 14 witnesses the Federal Government has lined up to witness against Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja how Joe Agi (SAN) purchased a BMW car costing N8million for the defendant.

The witness, Ms Ifeoma Ofornagolu, a sales consultant with Coscharis motors, explained to the court that part of her job was to facilitate transactions between customers and her company.

She added that she delivered the vehicle at the Lagos residence of the accused justice following the payment for the vehicle by Agi, who is the third defendant in the case.

She further explained that the purchase was completed through a telephone call between her office and Agi’s company, Joe Agi and associates.

Agi himself, according to her, also called their office after his company’s bank transferred N8 million as cost of the BMW and an additional N400, 000 paid as VAT for the BMW to Coschairs motors.

She said, “The receipt was issued in the name of Ademide Ademola; (Mr. Ademola’s son). I accompanied the driver to deliver the vehicle to Ademide Ademola at number 16 Babatunde Ajose Avenue, Lekki, Lagos. The car was signed for by Mr. Ademide Ademola who received the vehicle

“I was also called by Joe Agi. He called me to confirm if the transaction has been made.

Ms Ofornagolu stated that the receipt was sent to Ademide Ademola, via his email address, [email protected].

The defence counsel however protested the admissibility of the receipt, arguing that it was sent through an email with the use of an Ipad which was not certified before the court.

Onyeachi Ikpeazu, counsel to the first and second defendant, explained that there was no problem with the court accepting the delivery note and the invoice containing the said transaction as evidence, he argued that the email sent through the Ipad, said to contain the receipt of the vehicle cannot be authenticated

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The prosecution did not object to the submissions of the defence, subsequently, the documents sent using the email was withdrawn.

The defence counsel also objected to the repetition in court of the statements made by the witness during the cause of the investigation.

When the witness was asked to recount the details mentioned in her statement, she began to make the narration holding the said statement, which led the defence counsel to interject.

Making reference to Section 84 of the Evidence Act, Ikpeazu argued that the witness should not allude to her own statement before the open court.

He said the law permits the witness only to refer to his or her own statement, when such a statement proves inconsistent with what is testified in court by the same witness.

Argument at this point ensued on the counsels from both sides over the admissibility or otherwise of the statement and consequently, the trial judge, Jude Okeke, adjourned the matter till January 17.

Federal Government levelled on Ademola and wife, Olabowale, an 11-count charge of criminal conspiracy to receive gratification in various ways contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Ademola was also among the seven justices investigated after the sting operations carried out last October 8 and 9 by the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

 

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