Jonathan’s cousin opens defence on alleged $40m fraud, alleges victimisation

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, yesterday opened his defence on the suit brought against him over alleged $40 million fraud.

Aziboala is facing trial alongside his company, One Plus Holding Limited, for taking possession and converting $40 million received from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, to personal use.

But he told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he was being vilified by the present administration for serving his country.

Led in evidence-in-chief by his counsel, Goddy Uche, the defendant narrated that aside being chairman of several companies, he was an activist right from his university days.

He explained to the court that he founded the Niger Delta Human and Environmental Rescue Operation (HERO) and several non-governmental organisations committed to fighting for the common man and championing the crusade against environmental degradation in Niger Delta.

Aziboala told the court that as president of Niger Delta-HERO, he led several protests to protect the Niger Delta region, including leading the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP).

He was, however, interrupted by the prosecutor, Sylvanus Tahir, who raised an objection, asking the court to expunge all he said from its records.

He added that the charge was in relation to money laundering and has nothing to do with pro-democracy activism and environmental crusade.

But Uche asked the court to discountenance the “inappropriate and inapplicable” position of the prosecution.

“This is a criminal trial; it is not a civil proceeding. It is not a matter that is regulated by pleadings, but a trial in which the defendant has the constitutional right under section 36(5)(b) to be given adequate opportunity to tell his own side of the story,” he said.

He further argued that it was the prosecutor’s duty to tell the defendant how to tell his story. “It is premature for the prosecution counsel to speak for the court by determining a testimony that is relevant or not.”

In his ruling, Justice Dimgba dismissed the objection as lacking in merit.

The court held that the testimony of the defence witness (DW1) was relevant and useful in relation to the testimony of prosecution witness 10, which said the defendant used the money for a different purpose.

The court had, on March 29, discharged and acquitted Aziboala’s wife, Stella, of the nine-count charge brought against her by the Federal Government.

But Justice Dimgba held that Aziboala (1st defendant) and his company, One Plus Holding (3rd defendant), have explanations to make in respect of counts two and three.

The matter was adjourned till today.