Alleged N5.9m car gift: AVM Mamu knows fate June 29

An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Monday reserved judgment
until June 29 in the alleged N5.9 million car gratification leveled
against retired AVM Alkali Mamu.

The judge, Justice Salisu Garba, adjourned the case after
listening to the submissions of the counsel in the matter.

Mamu, was a former Fleet Personnel Officer, Presidential Air
Fleet; former Air Training Command, Kaduna, and member Committee
for Procurement, Ministry of Defence.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ), on June
21, 2016, arraigned Mamu on a four-count charge bothering on
receiving gratification.

The commission had alleged that Mamu collected a cash gift of
300,000 dollars and N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover
Evoque, as a member of Procurement and Planning Committee of
Ministry of Defence.

EFCC also alleged that Mamu received two vehicles (Ford
Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon) valued at N15 million and N12
million, respectively, from Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux
Nigeria Ltd., a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

EFCC said the offence contravened Section 17 (a) of the
Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act
2000, and punishable under Section 17 (c) of the same Act.

Adopting his written address, Mr Joesph Daudu (SAN), urged the
court to acquit Mamu because the prosecution did not prove the
ingredient of the offence.

“Upon a review of the four counts, the prosecution did not prove
any ingredient of the offence alleged against the defendant.

“The offence is not strict liability offence under the sections
he was charged,” he submitted.

He added that the prosecution failed to call the alleged giver
of the gift to testify in court against the receiver of the
gift.

“That makes the foundation of the allegation to fail.”

He submitted that because money was found in someone’s account;
means that it was a proceeds of a bribe.

He added that there was no nexus between the named giver of the
bribe and the receiver, and should jettison the allegations and
acquit the defendant.

He urged the court also to order that anything ceased from the
defendant should be returned to him.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to
go ahead and convict Mamu because the prosecution had made a prima
facie case against the defendant.

He added that the prosecution had proved its case beyond
reasonable doubt.

“Our argument is copiously stated in our final written address
and we urged the court to carefully go through it” he
submitted.

He urged the court to go ahead and convict the defendant.

NAN

An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Monday reserved judgment
until June 29 in the alleged N5.9 million car gratification leveled
against retired AVM Alkali Mamu.

The judge, Justice Salisu Garba, adjourned the case after
listening to the submissions of the counsel in the matter.

Mamu, was a former Fleet Personnel Officer, Presidential Air
Fleet; former Air Training Command, Kaduna, and member Committee
for Procurement, Ministry of Defence.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ), on June
21, 2016, arraigned Mamu on a four-count charge bothering on
receiving gratification.

The commission had alleged that Mamu collected a cash gift of
300,000 dollars and N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover
Evoque, as a member of Procurement and Planning Committee of
Ministry of Defence.

EFCC also alleged that Mamu received two vehicles (Ford
Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon) valued at N15 million and N12
million, respectively, from Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux
Nigeria Ltd., a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

EFCC said the offence contravened Section 17 (a) of the
Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act
2000, and punishable under Section 17 (c) of the same Act.

Adopting his written address, Mr Joesph Daudu (SAN), urged the
court to acquit Mamu because the prosecution did not prove the
ingredient of the offence.

“Upon a review of the four counts, the prosecution did not prove
any ingredient of the offence alleged against the defendant.

“The offence is not strict liability offence under the sections
he was charged,” he submitted.

He added that the prosecution failed to call the alleged giver
of the gift to testify in court against the receiver of the
gift.

“That makes the foundation of the allegation to fail.”

He submitted that because money was found in someone’s account;
means that it was a proceeds of a bribe.

He added that there was no nexus between the named giver of the
bribe and the receiver, and should jettison the allegations and
acquit the defendant.

He urged the court also to order that anything ceased from the
defendant should be returned to him.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to
go ahead and convict Mamu because the prosecution had made a prima
facie case against the defendant.

He added that the prosecution had proved its case beyond
reasonable doubt.

“Our argument is copiously stated in our final written address
and we urged the court to carefully go through it” he
submitted.

He urged the court to go ahead and convict the defendant.

NAN