EFCC insists accused statement is voluntary

A prosecution witness,

Ibrahim made the assertion in Abuja on Tuesday at the trial within trial before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court.

Kolawole had ordered the procedure following allegations made by Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, counsel to Afe, that Afe was induced, threatened, bundled and harassed to make his statement to the EFCC.

Ibrahim said: "I can categorically tell you that he was not bullied to give his statement".

"I was not part of the team that went to the second defendants' house. It was my team mates, Mustapha Gadanya and Nura Buhari that went to his house.

"But I know them because they are my team mates and if anything untoward had happened, I would know. We work as a team, and I trust them because they are professionals."

"We always go out with at least one armed mobile policeman whenever we go out on operations, this is for security purposes," she said.

While being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Atolagbe Oluwaleke, Ibrahim told the court that she took Afe's statement at the EFCC office, adding that it was an interactive session.

"My first encounter with the 2nd defendent was on Feb. 24, 2011, when I was assigned to take his statement by my superior, Mustapha Gadanya.

"Before he was invited, investigation concerning his company, Frederick Hamilton Global Services Limited and another company, Innovative Solutions Limited was conducted on the payment both companies received from the Head of Service.

"Before I took his statement, I informed him about what we discovered and showed him the bank papers where payments were made, I recorded his statement while he sat by me, facing the door.

She said she had also interviewed him orally following which she wrote the cautionary words and gave him to read.

The witness further said that she explained the purpose of the cautionary words to Afe, adding that in case the matter was charged to court, it might be used in evidence against him.

According to her, it is a free and voluntary statement based on the documents that were shown to him and he signed it willingly.

Afe was arraigned alongside Oronsaye on alleged 24-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kolawale adjourned the trial within trial till June 28 for the prosecution to present two more witnesses.