The trial of oil merchant Akintoye Akindele continued on Tuesday before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the court rejecting a document he tendered in the alleged $35 million fraud case involving the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Mr Akindele is standing trial alongside Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting them on an amended six-count charge bordering on dishonesty and conversion of $35 million belonging to the NCDMB.
The document in question contained a request by Akindele to buy off shares of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. It was presented by his counsel Emonye Adekwu on March 10, 2026, during cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness Isaac Yalah.
Prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho opposed the move, arguing that the document was not admissible because it was 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 NCDMB which is a public institution and such document should have been certified. The only admissible document in law of a copy of a public document is a certified true copy. We rely on Section 89 of the Evidence Act and Section 102 of the Evidence Act, and we also commend the case of Adeyefa against Bamgboye 2013, 10NWLR, part 1863 page 532. We also commend the case of Onwuzuruike against Edoziem 2016 6NWLR Part 1508, Page 205. We urge the court to discountenance it and dismiss it,” he said.
In his ruling, Justice Akpan agreed with the prosecution and rejected the document on the ground that it was a photocopy of a public document and not the original.
The court adjourned the case to May 18 and 19, 2026 for continuation of trial.
Apart from the EFCC case, Akindele is also facing a separate prosecution by the Nigeria Police Force over alleged bribery and diversion of over $5.6 million belonging to Summit Oil International Ltd.
