Shema trial: No written evidence, witness tells court

A principal witness in the trial of a former governor of Katsina State, Shehu Shema, over alleged N5.7bn laundering at the state office of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Nasiru Ingawa, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Katsina that he had no written evidence to prove that he gave money realised from the inflated and unexecuted contracts by the programme to the former governor.

Ingawa, who was Shema’s Special Adviser on SURE-P from June 2014 to May 2015, also admitted that he neither petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission nor the Katsina State House of Assembly to complain about Shema’s interference in the programme.

Ingawa made the disclosure while being cross-examined by Shema’s lead counsel, Sebastine Hon, SAN.

Ingawa was asked to tell the court whether he still maintained that some of the contracts awarded by the SURE-P, were either inflated or not executed; and whether he still maintained that money realized from such alleged slush activities were indeed given to Shema.

Ingawa answered in the affirmative.

Ingawa, however, said he had no written evidence to prove that he gave such money to Shema.

Shema’s counsel had asked Ingawa if he had any evidence that the amount realized from the alleged inflated contracts or unexecuted contract was taken to the defendant (Shema).

Ingawa replied, “No, I don’t have.”

At a point, the senior counsel demanded statements Ingawa made to the EFCC on August 19, 2015; September 28, 2015; and September 29, 2016 .

The EFCC counsel, Uket Uffot, could only provide the statement August 19, 2015, with a plea to be given sometime to provide the remaining statements.

Justice Hadiza Shagari adjourned further hearing on the case to Wednesday (today).