The trial of Akindele Akintoye, alongside Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited, continued on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the court refusing to admit in evidence a document tendered by Akintoye containing his request to buy out the shares of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended six-count charge bordering on dishonesty and the alleged conversion of $35 million belonging to the NCDMB.
The application for the admission of the document was filed by counsel to the first and second defendants, E.O. Adekwu, SAN, on March 10, 2026, during his cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Isaac Yalah. However, it met strong opposition from the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, who urged the court to reject the document on the grounds that it was merely a photocopy and not a certified true copy.
“I have an objection to the admissibility of this document. The ground is that this document is a photocopy of an original, and it is addressed to the NCDMB, which is a public institution. Such a document ought to have been certified. The only admissible copy of a public document in law is a certified true copy.
“We rely on Section 89 and Section 102 of the Evidence Act. We also cite the cases of Adeyefa v. Bamgboye (2013) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1863) 532 and Onwuzuruike v. Edoziem (2016) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1508) 205. We urge the court to discountenance it and dismiss it,” he said.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Justice Akpan agreed with the position of the prosecution and rejected the document on the grounds that it was a photocopy of a public document and not a certified true copy.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter until May 18 and 19, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
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