Alleged Bribery Charge: EFCC Plays Audio Evidence Against Shehu Sani In Court

Shehu Sani

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, played an audio recording in a Federal High Court, following the on-going trial of Shehu Sani, who is charged with receiving a 25,000 dollar bribe.

At the resumed hearing, the EFCC played the audio recording, which is in Hausa language, said to be a conversation between Sani and the complainant, Alhaji Sani Dauda, owner of ASD motors in Kaduna State.

The EFCC lawyer, Mr Ekele Iheanacho led Mr Bako Aliyu, the 10th prosecution witness in evidence to play the audio recording in court.

Iheanacho told the court that Aliyu had the conversation translation in English but the tape could not played back due to technical difficulties.

Aliyu, an EFCC investigator, told the court that investigation showed that there was evidence of financial transaction between Sani and Dauda.

He also said that the former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu was interviewed orally in the course of investigating the matter but that there was no written statement from him.

Iheanacho also tendered a proforma invoice for the purchase of a Peugeot 508 vehicle at the cost of N17.5 million through Aliyu which was admitted in evidence.

Under cross-examination by Sani’s Counsel, Mr Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, the witness, told the court that the 25,000 dollars was handed over to the EFCC by Dauda, the complainant, and not by Sani.

Ibrahim said that the invoice was in relation to a transaction involving the purchase of a car since the complainant is a car dealer.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 16 for the continuation of cross-examination.

Sani is being prosecuted by the EFCC on two counts charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretense.

The prosecution has so far called 10 witnesses out of the 14 it had listed, to prove its case against the former lawmaker.