There was a mild drama today in the FCT Court 33 presided by Justice Mirian Hassan, in continuation of the trial of the case involving former Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, over allegations of corruption and favouritism in awarding contracts, when an EFCC prosecution witness, Dr Maduka Onwusoro ,who was a former Director Procurement 2019-- 2023,told the Court under Cross examination by the Defence Counsel Patrick Ikwueto SAN that even though he was the Head of Procurement, he only heard there was a Presidential approval, but he didn't see the approval, but was just carrying out directives from the Minister routed through the Permanent Secretary as per the NSITF matters.

Shown a letter he authored to the Managing Director, NSITF directing them to send all procurement activities to his office and to redeploy all officers of their department, he said he was carrying out directives from the Permanent Secretary.

Dr Onwusoro now a Permanent Secretary claimed he couldn't remember the name of the Permanent Secretary. Shown an internal memo from the Minister to the Permanent Secretary forwarding all the presidential approval under "Secret" cover he claimed he had never seen it, but that the Permanent directed him orally. 

When the defence pointed out to him that he was infact a member of the Presidential panel of investigation on Procurement, Financial and Administrative breaches in the NSITF set up by the office of Secretary to the Government, he admitted being a member and also affirmed that the removal of the Procurement from the NSITF into the Ministry was one of their recommendations as a panel, but claimed he was only a member not the Chairman. There was laughter in the court. 

The witness was also shown a CTC of a letter to the Minister from the Chief of Staff to the then President from the Legal Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour Employment which conveyed the approval of that aspect of the Panels recommendation,he again said he was seeing it for the first time, but agreed that the approval was their recommendation. 

When the Defence asked that he went to EFCC and wrote a statement indicting the Minister saying that nobody saw this approval and that they was no such approval, he kept mute.Asked by the defence Counsel why he did not as a seasoned public servant go to the FederalMinistry of Labour and Employment at least to inquire in the Permanent Secretary office on this before writing about it,he said he didn't know he could do that.The Presidential approvals of 24 June 2021,8 March and the Internal Memo from HM to Permanent Secretary passing all the approvals in a restricted file were tendered as Exhibits as all were now certified as required by Law.

In closing the defence Counsel asked the witness if having seen the documents he would want to retract his written statement that contains many lies, but Sylvanus Tahir SAN for the EFCC Prosecution intervened that the witness should not be given the copy statement which is not legible. The court ruled that a certified copy be produced for the defence .Court adjourned to February 9 2027