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The case by prosecution in the ongoing trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and daughter, Sonia, as well as a Nigerian doctor, Obinna Obeta, will reach the climax today, when the star prosecution witness, Nwamini Ukpo David, takes his turn to give testimony at the Central Criminal Court.
However, Nwamini will not make a physical appearance in courtroom, as the Old Barley Court, last Friday, granted the leave sought by the prosecution for the 22-year-old to give his evidence by video link, in order to “safeguard him”.
But the request for remote appearance did not go without a fight, as Ekweremadu and Dr. Obeta’s lawyers argued vehemently against it, noting that Nwamini’s body language was equally as important, being the star witness.
Equally, the suggestion by the prosecution that Nwamini, who triggered the arrests of the Ekweremadus on June 21, 2023, after he was asked to return to Nigeria in May when he wasn’t deemed a suitable donor for Sonia, would make some changes to his earlier statement, did not go down well with the defence lawyers.
On the issue of remote appearance, one of Senator Ekweremadu’s two lawyers asked “If the police are able to show the reaction of Nwamini for the jury to see” when his interview is played.
The defence lawyers insisted that if the prosecution did not want to show video of David’s interview, they (defence) would be showing it as part of defence. The prosecution eventually conceded and assured that Nwamini’s body language would be shown, although prosecutor Hugh Davies, KC said, “the prosecution contends for him to be asked questions,” adding that “lines will be crossed “ in the process.
The hint that Nwamini might make changes to his earlier statement emerged when prosecution told the court that “the witness (Nwamini) should be reviewing their evidence” and “he will be asked if he wishes to change anything he had said.”
But when the judge asked if anything was wrong in principle, “if he (Nwamini) wants to change what he had said in his interview?”, defence lawyers insisted the defence was entitled to know what he’s going to say.
The prosecution ultimately revealed that the star witness would make a prepared statement, which would be ready by yesterday’s evening and presented to the court along with the video link for today’s testimony.
Nwamini, who clocked 22 in October, had initially told the Metropolitan Police that he was a 15-year-old minor and did not understand what he came to London to do. This has, however, been laid to rest as he later admitted on being a minor and was ruled an adult by the magistrates’ court before the matter was transferred to the Old Barley.
Also, whereas he reportedly told the metropolitan police, during interview in June, that he was an orphan, investigation by Daily Sun, who visited his hometown in August showed that both parents, Mr. Nwamini and Mary Ukpo, were alive and residing at their home in Izzida, Nduofia village of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
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