An Ikeja High Court yesterday rendered a copy of the Department of State Security’s report to the Senate on Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, inadmissible.
Our correspondent reports that Justice Doris Okuwobi in a ruling during the ongoing N5bn libel suit filed by Magu against the publishers of The Sun newspapers had held that the report was inadmissible due to the fact that it was not a Certified True Copy.
“I hereby accept the submission of the claimant’s (Magu) counsel to the effect that it is only a certified true copy of a public document properly issued by a public officer that is admissible under Section 104(1) of the Evidence Act.
“There is no provision in the Act making ordinary photocopies of public documents without certification as admissible.
“I find the document not admissible, as it is not in admissible form. The document is hereby rejected and marked as exhibit rejected number one,” Justice Okuwobi said.
Our correspondent reports that during proceedings on February 28, Mr. Charles Ewelunta, the defence counsel for the publishers of The Sun newspapers, while cross-examining Mr. Usman Zakari, an EFCC investigator, had sought to tender the DSS report on Magu.
However, Magu’s counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, had objected to the tendering of the report on the grounds that it was not a Certified True Copy.
Following the ruling, Ewelunta continued the cross-examination of Zakari, who is the the Head of Intelligence and Special Operations Unit of the EFCC.
Zakari said he worked closely with the anti-graft boss and that he started to view Magu from a different perspective after reading the allegedly damaging publication.
“I work with him closely, I know him very well. The claimant is an asset to the EFCC, he is a man of honour and integrity. Due to this publication, I don’t hold him in as high regard as before.
“I’m not aware that the claimant associates with certified corrupt Nigerians. It is correct that the DSS investigated the claimant, but I’m unaware of all the investigations the DSS conducted against the claimant.
“I read the story, which is the subject of this suit, online; that is why we are here,” he said.
Zakari, under cross-examination, denied allegations that Magu had property beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“The claimant does not have any property out of the country. He has a house in Kano, a townhouse in Karshi area of Abuja and a family house in Maiduguri.
“I have visited those three properties and he does not have any property outside Nigeria. That publication falsely mentioned he owned two properties in the highbrow area of Maitama, Abuja.
“It is not correct that the claimant is not worthy to be entrusted with responsibilities and it is also not correct that the claimant is lacking in integrity.
“We are in court because we want the ownership of those Maitama houses be proved and if proved otherwise, the court should grant our prayers,” Zakari said.
Following the EFCC investigator’s evidence, Shittu told the court that there were two more subpoenaed witnesses who are to testy before the claimant closes his case against The Sun Newspapers.