SURE-P Fund: Witness contradicts self in his evidence

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A witness, Nasiru Salish Ingawa, in the ongoing trial of a former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, yesterday, made a contradictory statement in his evidence before the court.
Earlier in his evidence before the court, he had alleged inflation of contracts sum by the defendant but during cross-examination, he admitted that there is no evidence or proof to show that any contract was inflated or not executed.
He further said in his statement before the court that he did not at any time take money to the former governor during his tenure as the Special Adviser to the former governor on SURE-P
During the cross examination of the witness, defendant counsel, Sebastine Hon (SAN), asked, “ from all the documents tendered as exhibits there is nothing to show that any contract was inflated or not executed or any money taken by you to the defendant?”
In his response, the witness said, “yes my lord, no document or evidence”.
When asked further, if due process was followed in awarding of the contracts from the documents tendered to the court, the witness responded- “yes my lord, the documents show due process was followed “.
Sebastine Hon also asked, “Contracts were executed and items delivered to the store of Sure P based on documents tendered as exhibits”.
Again, Nasiru Ingawa responded, “yes my lord!”
The witness who said he was the chief Accounting Officer of Sure P also admitted that all the memo for the contracts awarded were authored by him and not the defendant.
The prosecution counsel led by O. I. Uket, however applied for the adjournment of the trial to allow re-examination of the witness after the defendant closed his cross examination of the witness.
Although, the trial judge, Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari frowned at the application for adjournment but eventually adjourned the case to April 23rd and 24th for re-examination and continuation of trial.