TODAY
February 25, 2021
The trial-within-trial of a suspected serial fraudster, Scales Ishola Olatunji, was cut short on Thursday following a ruling by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State which disqualified one Peter Mba from giving his testimony as a defence witness in the matter.
Scales is being prosecuted by the Uyo zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 45-count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, fraud and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of over N525m.
The defendant had on December 10, 2020, through his counsel, Jane Obika objected to the admissibility of a document (Scales’ statement dated December 5, 2020) which was sought to be tendered by Nwandu Ukoha, counsel to the EFCC, through the PW3, Mohammed Sade. This led to the trial-within-trial.