A retired Director of Legal Services in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Haruna Alabi, on Tuesday admitted to signing the statement made by a former AGF, Ahmed Idris, as a witness on May 17, 2022.

Mr Alabi was testifying in the trial-within-trial of a former AGG in an federal High Court, Abuja, while being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe.

The court had ordered a trial-within-trial following the objection raised by Mr Idris’ counsel, Chris Uche SAN.

Mr Uche objected on the grounds that the statements Mr Idris sought to tender on November 23, 2022, were made on the grounds of deception and inducement.

Mr Idris is charged alongside Geoffrey Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited with fraudulent diversion of public funds to the tune of N109.5 billion before Justice Halilu Yusuf.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Testifying, Mr Alabi identified his signature and name when the exhibit marked B3 (Idris’s statement from May 17, 2022) was shown to him.

When cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mr Atolagbe, the witness told the court that he visited Mr Idris at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters on May 17, 2022, accompanied by other directors.

Asked if Mr Idris was still the AGF as of May 17, 2022, the witness stated he was in EFCC custody.

Asked in what capacity was their visit? He said, “As our former boss. We wanted to show empathy. I wrote my name and signed on the back of the 1st defendant‘s statement dated May 17, 2022, and did not sign any other space,” he said.

Asked if the 1st defendant wrote the statement he signed on the back on May 17, the witness replied, “I don’t know.”

After his evidence, the first defendant’s counsel asked for adjournment to enable him to produce his witness.

Mr Yusuf directed the defence to produce all his witnesses by the next adjourned date.

He then adjourned the continuation of the trial-within-trial until June 24.

(NAN)