EFCC VS Oronsaye: Judge stops witness from using explanation chart

As the trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, began yesterday, the prosecution team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was em­barrassed at the resumed hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as the presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ruled in favour of the defence team against an attempt by the Commission's first prosecution witness (Pw1), Rouqayya Ibrahim to use a chart to give her evidence.

Ibrahim, an operative of the EFCC, who came as the commission's first Prosecution Witness requested to use a chart in the court to explain the findings of the EFCC in the course of investigation of the alleged fraud in pension payments in Nigeria.

Opposing the request, lead Counsel to Oronsaye, Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the chart, as displayed, having photographs of the accused persons will not allow for fair trial.

He said: "The chart, having photographs of the accused persons will be prejudicial and will not allow for fair trial. When I saw the chart, I thought it was a document earlier frontloaded to us but we just noticed that we received it here in court. If it is a document they intend to use, they should serve it on us properly."

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