The corruption trial of former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, continued today as the second prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) denied claims that state funds were deposited in a bank account allegedly belonging to the ex-governor.
The witness, Mrs. Omolara Abiodun Akiode, who works as a marketer at FinBank Plc, spoke under cross-examination before an Abeokuta High Court presided over by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje.
Her testimony came shortly before the court ordered the EFCC to return Daniel’s international passport to enable him seek medical attention abroad.
Justice Mabekoje gave the order following an application filed by Daniel’s lead counsel, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), who said there was urgent need for the accused to seek medical check-up in London, United Kingdom.
The former governor is standing trial on a 38-count charge preferred against him by the anti-graft commission.
At the resumed trial yesterday, the EFCC presented its second prosecution witness to testify on certain transactions in a corporate current account of Masterline Investment and Property Ltd.
The bank official, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that one Engineer J.O. Daniel was the sole signatory to the company’s account opened in 2000 and domiciled at Allen branch.
She disclosed that three cheque deposits, totalling N29million, were lodged into the account between 2005 and 2006.
However, under cross-examination by one of Daniel’s counsel, Mrs. Titi Akinlawon (SAN), Akiode said she did not have any knowledge of suspicious transactions on the account.
At the end of the proceedings, Justice Mabekoje ordered the EFCC to release Daniel’s international passport to enable the former governor to seek medical treatment in London.
The judge ruled following a Motion on Notice filed by the defence counsel which was not opposed by the prosecution.
Osipitan, who highlighted five grounds for the medical trip, said the application was supported by 24 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Daniel, a written address as well as X-ray and medical report marked as Exhibit OGD 1 and OGD 2.
The judge therefore ruled that Daniel must return to the country on or before September 30, 2012.
He added that the ex-governor must return the passport to the commission’s custody within three days of his arrival.
Justice Mabekoje, therefore, adjourned the case to October 15, 25 and 26 for continuation of trial.
