AYPA Accuses EFCC, Media of Selective Malami Trial Reports - InsideBusiness - Business News in Nigeria
TheArewa Youth Progressive Alliance (AYPA)has criticised the reporting of the ongoing trial involvingAbubakar Malami, alleging that key court details have been overlooked. TheAYPAhas accused theEconomic and. . .
TheArewa Youth Progressive Alliance (AYPA)has criticised the reporting of the ongoing trial involvingAbubakar Malami, alleging that key court details have been overlooked. TheAYPAhas accused theEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)and some media organisations of presenting a one-sided picture of the ongoing trial of formerAttorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group’s spokesperson,Adam Umar Adam, claimed that reports on the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness focused mainly on issues considered damaging to Malami while leaving out important details from the cross-examination. The witness, a compliance officer withJaiz Bank, gave evidence concerning transactions linked toAlkausar Farms, a company mentioned in the case. AYPA said several reports highlighted account activities but failed to include the witness’s responses during questioning by the defence. The group stated that the witness admitted she was not the account officer handling the account and confirmed that none of the defendants, including Malami, his wife or his son, was listed as a signatory. AYPA also said the witness informed the court that no money in the account came from theFederal Ministry of Justiceand that no payment link was established between the ministry and the account. According to the group, these details are important because they relate to questions about ownership, control and alleged benefit from the transactions under investigation. The alliance further noted thatAlkausar Farmswas registered in 2008, before Malami became Attorney-General. It argued that the existence of transactions in an account does not automatically prove wrongdoing without evidence of ownership, authority or connection to criminal activity. AYPA said five prosecution witnesses have testified so far but claimed none has provided evidence connecting the Alkausar Farms account transactions to the Ministry of Justice. The group called for balanced reporting of court proceedings and urged theEFCCto be careful in its public communication, stressing the importance of fairness and the principle that defendants remain innocent until proven guilty. Do you think court reporting should include equal attention to both prosecution evidence and defence arguments?Post Views:68