By Executive Editor, Judiciary (Advocatenewsng.com).
A prosecution witness and accountant with Eunisell Ltd, Mr. Philip Enejo Odekina has confirmed before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos that Mr. Kenneth Ndubisi Amadi (1st defendant), did not steal the alleged Eunisell’s N2.9 billion for which he is standing trial at the court.
Mr Odekina, the second prosecution witness made the confirmation on Thursday January 20, 2022 while testifying before a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis Allagoa in the trial of the defendant over alleged N2.9 billion fraud.
In continuation of the trial of the defendants on Thursday, charged to court by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mrs Aderonke Imana announced appearance for the prosecution while Mohammed Ndarani (SAN,) led the defence team comprising Barr. O.J Akinwale and a former 2nd Vice President of NBA, Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani.
However, Mr. Adarani informed the court that since he was new in the matter, he would allowed Dr. Ubani to conduct the day’s proceedings. The court obliged him.
While being led in evidence by the prosecution, the witness Philip Odekina said that he is an accountant with Eunisell Ltd for 10 years as finance manager, adding that as finance manager, he and his team raised waybills and invoices and not the defendant, Kenneth Amadi.
He said that as CEO, Kenneth Amadi was only interfacing with the customers with the aim of raising revenue for the company.
“Kenneth Amadi was responsible and managing our key customers such as Total, Ammasco, MRS, AZ Petroleum, SPDC to mention but a few,” he said.
He further said that as finance manager, he discovered after an audit that there were inflows of money into Eunisell account but without narration or description.
“Our customers paid money into 2nd defendant and from there, the money was remitted to us”.
“Money was coming into our account but without narration” he said.
He admitted that Kenneth, IDID and another paid money into Eunisell account whereas the company has no relationship with them.
“We have relationship with Ammasco, AZ Petroleum, and others. It was usual to pay money to us but not through the defendants.”
In answer to the prosecution question, the witness said, “they all pay money into Eunisell account but through their incorporated company”.
In answer to another question from the prosecution, Philip Odekina said that he made a statement at the Police Fraud Unit. He identified the statement which was tendered and admitted as exhibit GP.
Under cross examination by Dr. Ubani, the witness said that they conducted audit after Kenneth Amadi left the company. According to him it was after the audit that they discovered that payments were made but without narration.
Ubani: You reported to the police and wrote a statement that the defendant defrauded your company. Are you aware that after full investigation into your petition, the police in its report exonerated Kenneth Amadi?
Philip Odekina: I am not aware.
Ubani: Are you also aware that EFCC after full investigation on your petition, wrote a report and exonerated Kenneth Amadi from the fraud allegation?
Philip Odekina: I am not aware.
Ubani: Are you also aware that former EFCC Chairman, Magu after investigating your claims that this man stole your N2.9 billion, exonerated him in his report.
Philip Odekina: I am not aware.
Ubani: Are you aware that your managing director was charged to court for giving the police wrong information against the defendant?
Philip Odekina: I am not aware.
Ubani: Are you saying that the defendant squandered the N2.9 billion as you claimed?
PhilipOdekina: He didn’t steal the N2.9 billion.
Ubani: Was Kenneth Amadi owing Eunisell any money?
Philip Odekina: It was the customer that was owing N103 million and not the 1st defendant.
Ubani: From your own testimony, this money was never stolen?
Philip Odekina: 1st defendant did not steal the money, it was AZ that was owing Eunisell.
Ubani: Finally, eventually after reconciliation, he did not steal any of your money, Yes or No?
Philip Odekina: Yes
Ubani: My lord, that will be all for the witness.
The matter was adjourned to February 18 for continuation of trial as the Investigating Police Officer ( IPO) was not available at the proceedings on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the defence team urged the court to direct the prosecution to bring all the witnesses at the next adjourned date to conclude its case so that the defendant can open his defence and conclude the trial on time.
Mrs. Imana told the court that her last witness will be available at the next adjourned date.
