N2.9bn Scam: Court Dismisses Turnah’s Objection On Admissibility Of Statement

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has dismissed the application by Jennifer Timinipre Turner, wife of George Turnah, former Special Adviser to Mr. Dan Abia, erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, challenging the admissibility if the statement she had volunteered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The statement which the EFCC had sought to tender in evidence on February 27, was opposed by the defence counsel, Prof. Amuda Kaneke. Relying on Section 232 of the Evidence Act, he urged the court to mark the “statement” rejected.

However, prosecuting counsel, A.I.Arogha described the application as misconceived, and urged the court to discountenance the objection.

At the resumed hearing of the case on March 20, 2020, Justice Mohammed upheld the submission of the prosecution and admitted the statement in evidence as “Exhibit C”.

Justice Mohammed similarly dismissed the application by counsel to the 9th defendant, Concerned Niger Delta Youth Initiative, Prof Amuda Kaneke who had stated that his client was not known to law having not been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and Omocould not sue or be sued.

He therefore asked that his client be struck off the charge.