The trial of former Minister of Interior and Senator representing Benue South District, Patrick Abba Moro; a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia; an ex-director in the same ministry Felix Alayebami, and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd., continued at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday with testimony from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, agent.
Adeniyi Adebayo, the 12th prosecution witness, told the Court that the defendants created an e-recruitment portal to fraudulently collect funds from job applicants.
Adebayo, an operative of the EFCC, while being cross-examined by counsel of the first defendant, Paul Erokoro, SAN, pointed out that Moro and Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd did not follow the rules of the Procurement Act.
He noted that the contract agreement was done with Drexel Tech Global Ltd but that Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd was used to execute the contract which it did not bid for.
The witness also revealed that the board of Immigrations, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Prisons was not carried along in the contract award process. This act, according to Adeniyi, constituted an abuse of office on the part of Moro.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned till November 25, 2019 for the continuation of the cross-examination of the witness.
Lives were lost in some cities following a mad rush and stampede that followed the recruitment exercise over four years ago.
