Why I withheld sensitive documents from EFCC – AVM Mamu

A former Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF), Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Alkali Mamu (Rtd) yesterday told
an FCT High Court in Maitama that he withheld certain documents
from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “because
they are not a security agent.”

Mamu had in his evidence in chief reported in Daily Trust on
October 14 told the court how foreign mercenary pilots brought in
from Ukraine were engaged to combat Boko Haram terrorists in
disguise, as instructors and how the cause of death of one of the
mercenaries was covered from the Ukrainian embassy.

He had told the court that his evidence involved matters that
would expose Nigeria’s contravention of the United Nation’s Charter
of armed conflicts especially Resolution 44/34.

The judge, Justice Salisu Garba at this point asked the EFCC
counsel, Sylvanus Tahir if he still wanted the trial to continue in
open court due to the sensitive nature of the evidence as it
regards to national security.

Tahir said “These are issues we are being taken by surprise but
we believe the evidence can go ahead in open court,” and the court
gave order to the witness to continue with his evidence.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, under
cross-examination, Tahir, Mamu told the court that EFCC was not a
security agent, which explained why he did not present some
documents he presented in court to the commission.

He added that he did not also present the documents to the
presidential committee of the audit of arms procurement because
they were never discussed during the proceedings of the
committee.

At the end of the cross examination, Mamu’s counsel, Joseph
Daudu (SAN) informed the court that he would have called the
Ukrainian Ambassador to come and testify as a witness to
corroborate Mamu’s evidence, but decided against it because of
national security.

Upon closing the defence case, Justice Garba adjourned the
matter to February 19, 2018 for adoption of final written
addresses.

Mamu was brought before the court by EFCC on a four-count charge
bordering on bribery, alleging that he collected a cash gift of
N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque.

He was also alleged to have received two vehicles, Ford
Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon valued at N15million and
N12million respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux
Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Office of the National
Security Adviser (ONSA).

A former Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF), Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Alkali Mamu (Rtd) yesterday told
an FCT High Court in Maitama that he withheld certain documents
from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “because
they are not a security agent.”

Mamu had in his evidence in chief reported in Daily Trust on
October 14 told the court how foreign mercenary pilots brought in
from Ukraine were engaged to combat Boko Haram terrorists in
disguise, as instructors and how the cause of death of one of the
mercenaries was covered from the Ukrainian embassy.

He had told the court that his evidence involved matters that
would expose Nigeria’s contravention of the United Nation’s Charter
of armed conflicts especially Resolution 44/34.

The judge, Justice Salisu Garba at this point asked the EFCC
counsel, Sylvanus Tahir if he still wanted the trial to continue in
open court due to the sensitive nature of the evidence as it
regards to national security.

Tahir said “These are issues we are being taken by surprise but
we believe the evidence can go ahead in open court,” and the court
gave order to the witness to continue with his evidence.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, under
cross-examination, Tahir, Mamu told the court that EFCC was not a
security agent, which explained why he did not present some
documents he presented in court to the commission.

He added that he did not also present the documents to the
presidential committee of the audit of arms procurement because
they were never discussed during the proceedings of the
committee.

At the end of the cross examination, Mamu’s counsel, Joseph
Daudu (SAN) informed the court that he would have called the
Ukrainian Ambassador to come and testify as a witness to
corroborate Mamu’s evidence, but decided against it because of
national security.

Upon closing the defence case, Justice Garba adjourned the
matter to February 19, 2018 for adoption of final written
addresses.

Mamu was brought before the court by EFCC on a four-count charge
bordering on bribery, alleging that he collected a cash gift of
N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque.

He was also alleged to have received two vehicles, Ford
Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon valued at N15million and
N12million respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux
Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Office of the National
Security Adviser (ONSA).