Sani Dauda, a prosecuting witness in the trial of Shehu
Sani, has told a federal high court in Abuja of how the former senator
allegedly demanded N5 million bribe from him.
Dauda, who owns ASD Motors, said Sani told him when they met
in November 2019, that the money would be used to “sort out” some judges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is
prosecuting the former senator on two-count criminal charges bordering on
influence-peddling and obtaining the sum of $25,000 from Dauda to allegedly
bribe the EFCC to shield him from investigation and prosecution.
He was also reported to have said he could assist Dauda in
influencing the outcome of his case using his connection with Ibrahim Muhammad,
chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).
At his resumed trial on Monday, Dauda told the court how
Sani allegedly convinced him to give him N5 million after he (Dauda) spoke with
someone purported to be the CJN.
He said: “Shehu Sani came to sympathise with me on November
12, 2019 when the husband of my daughter, Abubkar Musa divorced her about three
years ago and we had issue where the inspector-general of police arrested and
detained me and my family.
“Then, Sani told me that he was going to Abuja and promised
to help me out of the case.
“When he reached Abuja, he called me on November 19, 2019
that he wanted to see me, and that the issue will not be discussed on phone,
that it was better we met in person. I then came to Abuja and Sani came to my
Maitama residence where he informed me that he spoke with the CJN about my
matter.
“I then told him that I wanted to meet the CJN in person,
but Sani told me that he can’t see me because the DSS and other security men were
watching his moves, hence he can only communicate with me on phone.
“I communicated with someone purported to be CJN, where he
asked me if I knew any judge, I told him no, then he said he gave Sani message,
and that he will relate it with me. That’s where Sani told me about four judges
whom the CJN assigned to help me in my case.
“He further said I should give him some money to sort out
the judges, a million naira for each of them and one million naira for an
operative of the EFCC to prosecute my in-law, Musa, because he has case with
EFCC, making the total, five million naira.
“I then informed him that I don’t have money, but he
insisted, leaving me with no choice but to call one Abubakar, a bureau de
change operator the following day to give me five million naira, equivalent of
$13,937.
“Then, I had some dollars with me because I just returned
from the lesser hajj. I put them all together to make $15,000 (Fifteen thousand
dollars).”
Inyang Ekwo, the judge, adjourned till Tuesday for
continuation of witnesses’ cross-examination.
Sani had denied the allegations, and said the EFCC witnesses
failed to indict him for the alleged bribe.
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