A retired detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Dickson Graymond, has told a Lagos High Court sitting in
Ikeja that Pastor Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs confessed voluntarily to defrauding
Mrs. Titi Atiku, wife of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, of N918m.
The
EFCC witness disclosed this in his testimony before Justice Atinuke Oluwatoyin
Ipaye yesterday during a trial-within-trial investigating the voluntariness of
Akpan-Jacob’s alleged confessional statement to the anti-graft agency.
When
led-in-evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Babatunde Sonoiki, the witness told
the court that there were many things the defendant confided in him that he
refused to put into writing.
He said: “All what he told me were not forced. I did not even
force him to write all what he confided in me in his confessional statement.
All what he said in his statement was of his own free will.”
When
cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr. Amos Ibe, the witness denied
illegally detaining the pastor in EFCC’s custody for three weeks and
disallowing him access to legal representation.
It
would be recalled that the EFCC instituted a suit against Akpan-Jacobs;
Abdulmalik Ibrahim, a lawyer; and Dana Motors Ltd in a 14-count charge.
Their
offence bordered on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property
worth N918m belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.
The
judge adjourned continuation of the trial-within-trial till October 25, 2017.
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