“My company is being owed N24 million for printing ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign posters during 2015 presidential election,” says Mr Olusegun Idowu, a witness in Femi Fani-Kayode’s trial.
Idowu, was the first witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the on-going trial of the then Director for Media and Publicity of Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.
Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an alleged N4.9 billion fraud.
He is being charged alongside a former minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Ltd.
They are standing trial on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.
They all pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Idowu, while giving evidence, said the N24 million was part of a total of N54 million which was for pasting of posters and consultancy jobs, his company did for the ex-president’s campaign organisation during the 2015 election.
The witness, also the Managing Director of Paste Poster Company Ltd, said his company was paid N30 million cash in tranches of N6 million and N24 million, while another N24 million remained unpaid.
During cross-examination, Idowu told the court that his company got the poster printing job for the ex-president campaign organisation through a referral by a member of the organisation, Aderemi Ajidahun.
Idowu said that one Mr Oke helped his company to relate with the campaign organisation.
He said his company received the cash payments of N24 million and N6 million from the said Mr Oke.
When asked by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr Norrison Quakers, whether he had any direct dealings with Fani-Kayode, Idowu stated that he never had any direct dealing with Fani-Kayode.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa, however, after listening to the arguments, adjourned the case until Nov. 20, 21 and 22 for continuation of trial.
In the charge Fani-Kayode was accused of conspiring with the other accused to directly and indirectly retain various sums, which were proceeds of crime.
EFCC also said that the accused allegedly committed the offences between Jan. 8 and March 25, 2015. (NAN)