EFCC witness denies threat to life

Henry Ojelu

A prosecution witness in a N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud trial, Mr Kehinde Akinmolayo today denied that his life was under threat as alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Akinmolayo, a former Terminal Manager of Lister Jetty, Apapa, was on Monday summoned by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court to testify in the trial of the two oil marketers and a banker.

The marketers, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Abdullahi Alao as well as their firms, Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd. are being prosecuted alongside a staff of Sterling Bank Plc, Olanrewaju Olalusi.

On Monday, the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had claimed that the witness was afraid to appear before the court as his life was being threatened.

However, today, Akinmolayo, under cross-examination by the defence lawyers, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku and Mr Aderemi Oguntoye, denied that he was threatened.

“I have not been attacked but I am conscious of my security,” he added.

He further told the court that he supervised the said transaction between Jan. 20 and Jan. 22, 2011.

“The vessel, MT Brave came to our jetty and we attended to it.

“We discharged 4,264 metric tonnes into the tank farm and the balance was taken away,” he said.

Akinmolayo also stated that none of the documents relating to the said transaction were signed by him because he only played a supervisory role.

He said Alao was the finance director of Lister Jetty at the time of the transaction, adding that he was not sacked as alleged by Oguntoye.

Responding, both lawyers accused Akinmolayo of being economical with the truth and that he had been induced to lie against the defendants.

The EFCC alleged that the marketers had discharged 4,264 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirits but had collected subsidy payment for 15,000 metric tonnes from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The matter was adjourned till November 10, 2014 for continuation of trial.