The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sought an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, to play a video in the ongoing trial of former NNPC group managing director Andrew Yakubu.

EFCC counsel Farouk Abdullah requested this on Wednesday before Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

At the beginning of the proceeding, Mr Abdullah asked for “exhibits M, N and N1,” tendered while taking the sixth prosecution witness (PW6)’s evidence on October 17, 2018, and admitted in evidence by the court.

The EFCC had, in 2017, raided the Kaduna residence of the ex-NNPC boss and found $9,772,800 and £74,000 in a safe.

Mr Yakubu was arraigned on March 16, 2017, on six counts, but the trial court struck out counts five and six while the Court of Appeal also ordered the former GMD to defend only count three and four bordering on failure to make full disclosure of assets, receiving cash without going through financial institutions and intent to avoid a lawful transaction.

Mr Abdullah told the court that “exhibit M and N” were compact discs, while “exhibit N1” was a memory card.

He added, “It was brought on October 17, 2018, and was tendered through PW 6. My lord, one is, I apply for leave of this honourable court to okay the contents of exhibits M, N, and N1 for the viewing of the court and asked the first defence witness (Yakubu) some questions in respect of the content in furtherance to the cross-examination by the counsel.

“My second application is, may I request this honourable court to direct the registry to assist the prosecution with a laptop, a projector, and a projector screen to aid the display of the contents of the proceedings. In the alternative, the court may wish to direct the prosecution to use its own devices which are readily available in court to display the contents of the aforementioned exhibits.”

However, counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji, opposed the application.

Arguing against playing the video recording, Mr Raji stated, “If such is played now, I won’t have the opportunity of cross-examining the maker of the clips tendered in court. Cross-examination is not meant to bring back dumped documents. The prosecution wants to breathe life into a dumped document.”

The judge adjourned the matter until July 14 for a ruling.