TVC E ( ABUJA ): The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, accused the former governor of Imo State, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim of intimidating some of the witnesses billed to testify against him as he faces a three-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
He was alleged to have looted the sum of $2.290 million from the state treasury and used same to acquire a mansion at the Asokoro District of Abuja.
At the resumed trial yesterday, the EFCC told Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court in Abuja that Ohakim had through his son, Emeka, threatened the life of one of the witnesses, Mr. Abu Sule, who earlier exposed how the former governor paid a cash sum of N270 million for the Abuja property.
EFCC lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo told the court that Ohakim’s son has already traced the residential address of the witness.
“My lord this is a very serious issue that has to do with life and death. The witness called me around 9am yesterday (Monday) to inform me that the second son of the accused person came to his office at Asokoro and made inquiries about the address of his residence. In fact ,he asked three different people, one Itakpo, Okoh who is a taxi driver and one Architect Sola, who all refused to tell him.
Festus Keyamo went on to say, “This is a criminal trial. The issue at hand has gone beyond counsel to counsel, it has to do with the life of a witness. We humbly urge this court to caution the defendant to immediately call his son or whoever that is also involved in this plot to order.”
However, his submission infuriated Ohakim’s lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, who accused Keyamo of raising a false alarm with a view to destabilizing the defence team.
Kalu said it was unfortunate that Keyamo never discussed such issue with him or any of the lawyers in his team before making such allegation in the open court.
“When the court stood down this matter, he had the opportunity to discuss the issue with either the counsel or the father of the son, but he did not do so.
“In African tradition, when a young boy misbehaves, the attention of his parents should be drawn to it. We find this issue very disturbing. It is on record that the PW-2 testified on November 2, 2015, yet the prosecution is alleging that it was only yesterday (Monday) that the young man went to find out the residence of the witness.
“Since Keyamo refused to give the defence opportunity to investigate the matter, we urge the court to dismiss this story,” Kalu added.
