By Francis Wilfred
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a document presented by a defendant in the ongoing alleged $35 million fraud case involving Akindele Akintoye and two companies. Justice Ekerete Akpan ruled that the document, which sought to show a request to acquire shares from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), was inadmissible because it was a photocopy of a public document and not a certified true copy.
Akintoye is standing trial alongside Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended six-count charge related to alleged dishonesty and conversion of funds belonging to the NCDMB.
The defence had filed an application to admit the document during cross-examination of a prosecution witness, Isaac Yalah. However, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), opposed its admission, arguing that it failed to meet legal requirements for admissibility.In his ruling, Justice Akpan upheld the prosecution’s objection and declined to admit the document into evidence.The court subsequently adjourned the case to May 18 and 19, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.
