Former Information Minister, Alh Lai Mohammed, has failed to appear
before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court in respect of the
N2.5bn Digital Switch Over (DSO) project contract awarded to Pinnacle
Communications Ltd.
The immediate past Communication Minister is expected to tell Justice
Folashade Ogunbanjo Giwa all he knows about the contract that has led
to the trial of the Director-General of National Broadcasting
Commission, Ishaq Kawu Modibbo, Pinnacle Communications Ltd and two
others.
Mohammed’s name is contained in the list of additional witnesses lined
up by the prosecution counsel, Henry Emore, among others.
He was expected to appear at today’s proceedings to testify as the
minister who approved the payment of N2.5bn to Pinnacle.
However, after calling two witnesses, the prosecution counsel informed
the court that he was to call the former Information Minister but for
his absence.
Umore said Mohammed had travelled out of the country but was being
expected in the country on or before July 31.
In addition, the court was told that Mohammed had finally made a
statement before ICPC, as a former minister.
The prosecution also informed the court that the other witness he
wished to call, was still in Saudi Arabia.
However, Alex Izinyon (SAN), counsel to Onifade Oladipupo (2nd
defendant) and Sir Lucky Omoluwa (3rd defendant) told the court that
he had already filed an application to oppose the list of additional
witness filed by the prosecution counsel.
Izinyon said the defence team had already joined issues with the
prosecution on the failure of ICPC to call the Information Minister
who approved the payment of N2.5bn to Pinnacle as well as join him as
a defendant in the case.
A witness called by the ICPC told the court that the then Information
Minister had refused to make a statement to the ICPC, claiming that he
needed to get clearance from the Secretary to the Government to the
Federation.
Earlier, upon cross-examination by Izinyon, a prosecution witness,
Olugbemi Abraham, told the court that “during investigation, we could
not interview the then minister of Information because he said he
needed clearance from the Secretary to Government of the Federation.”
Abraham, however, revealed that they later took statement from
Mohammed during the pendency of this case, admitting that “really, we
did not bother to get in touch with the SGF to enable him to allow the
Information Minister to make a statement.”
