The Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, Halima Buba, is facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged $12 million money laundering offences.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to October 16 for ruling on whether Buba’s lawyer can cross-examine an EFCC witness on certain issues raised during his evidence-in-chief.
During cross-examination, Buba’s counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), asked the first prosecution witness, Suleiman Ciroma, who owns Funnacle BDC Ltd, to confirm the names of those who collected dollars from Aisha Achimugu, the Managing Director of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd.
However, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), objected, arguing that the question was irrelevant to the facts of the case and could mislead the witness. He explained that the charge concerns transactions by Ashrap Energy Oil Services Ltd, not Ashrap BDC Ltd, which the defence introduced.
Usman disagreed, stating that cross-examination allows questions beyond the direct testimony and that his questions were based on what the witness already said in his earlier evidence. He accused the EFCC of trying to limit the defence’s ability to challenge the witness.
Justice Nwite postponed ruling on the objection and fixed October 16 and 17 for the ruling and continuation of trial.
Buba and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu, Executive Director and Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank, were arraigned on June 13 on a six-count charge of allegedly facilitating cash transactions worth $12 million outside the banking system.
The offences are said to contravene Sections 2(1), 9(1)(d), and 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same law.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted ₦100 million bail each, with one surety in like sum.
