By Executive Editor, Judiciary.
The prosecution witness and managing director of Eunisell Ltd, Mr. Chika Ikenga on Thursday told a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos that the company did not issue any query to its former employee, Mr. Kenneth Amadi demanding his explanation on why payments made to the company by its clients were paid indirectly to Eunisell’s account.
Mr. Chika Ikenga made the statement while being cross examined by O.J. Akinwale, defence counsel for Mr. Kenneth Amadi charged by Attorney General of the Federation for alleged N2.9 billion fraud. The managing director, Ikenga did not offer any further explanation as to why his management took the decision not to query Amadi on the matter.
In continuation of Amadi’s trial on Thursday before Justice Ambrose Allagoa, Mrs. Aderonke Imana announced appearance for prosecution while Mr. O.J. Akinwale who took over from Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN) announced appearance for defence.
Responding to the cross examination by defence counsel, the witness said that they received payments from AZ and Amasco but the money came from first defendant’s company.
“We received some money from first defendant and he told us that they came from AZ and Amasco. As the CEO, we took his words for that.”
When asked if the money was returned since it didn’t come direct from AZ and Amasco, the witness said “No, we just complained to the police and EFCC”
When asked if his problem was that the money came to Eunisell account from the first and second defendant, Chika Ikenga said that the money was paid by second defendant to Eunisell.
When further asked if he tendered any document to court showing payment details, he said no but it was given to the police for their investigation.
The witness confirmed that there was no letter from either AZ or Amasco to Eunisell stating that first and second defendants are being fraudulent.
When further asked if he has seen the response of AZ to the police after his petition, the witness said “Yes. At this point, the letter from AZ to the police was shown to the witness which he confirmed.
In answer to another question, the witness who said that he is not a director in both AZ and Amasco, admitted that AZ paid some money the day first defendant resigned from Eunisell. He added that AZ was owing N103 million to Eunisell.
When asked how much was Amasco owing as at February, 2017, the witness said that he was not in a position to say that.
At this point, the defence counsel concluded his cross examination of the witness. The witness was then discharged.
The matter has been adjourned for continuation of trial next week.
Meanwhile, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN) who was the lead defence counsel for the defendant, announced before the presiding judge that he was disengaging himself from continuing as counsel for the defendants. He cited wrong media reports of the case as one of his reasons for withdrawing his services to the defendants.
When the judge asked first defendant if he needs adjournment in order to get another lawyer, Mr Amadi told the court that he wants the second defence counsel Mr O.J. Akinwale to continue.
The judge then granted the prayers of Etiaba to disengage from the matter.
