But counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that Nwosu voluntarily made the statements, adding that he was duly cautioned before making same. In his ruling on Monday, after a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements, Justice Idris held that Opara failed to prove that the statements were dictated to his client. Though, the defendant alleged that the statements were dictated to him amidst coercion, the said allegation was, however, debunked by the prosecution witnesses. “In the circumstances, I hold that the statements are admissible in evidence.”He adjourned till January 11, 2018 for further hearing. But Nwosu later abandoned the plea bargain after Justice Idris rejected the N500,000 fine proposed for him as punishment by the EFCC.

Source: Punch December 05, 2017 01:18 UTC