BY: MOHAMED SAHR
mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Saidu Nallo and five other accused persons were cross-examined before Honourable Justice Adrian Fisher on the offences of misappropriation of public funds, failure to comply with applicable procedures and abuse of office on the matter between the state against Saidu Nallo and five others.
During cross-examination by O.V Robin Mason, who served as the counsel for the Anti-Corruption Commission, Saidu Nallo said he was aware of Empire Group Construction Company only in January 2018 when he assumed as the vault controller of the Chancery building in New York, United States of America.
He told the court that the Empire Group was the main company in charge of the labouring work for the construction process.
He mentioned that the 3A Construction Company was hired to specifically do the interior demolition. However, 3A left the construction process because they were not licensed and the law of United States prohibited construction without licenses.
Saidu Nallo added that his team engaged Fair Field Construction Company through a request they made from Freetown the capital city, but found that it was not a requirement of a general construction to have a license.
In respect of the payment made, the six accused persons told the court that he convened a meeting with the procurement department in Freetown, and he equally briefed the then Ambassador about the payment, that which was made to expedite the construction. “I signed the cheque but there was no authentication,” Saidu Nallo said.
O.V Robin Manson, state counsel serving in capacity of ACC prosecutor said in as much as there were no minutes which the accused person ascribed to, particularly to the payment, it showed that there was no validation of the said payment.
Notwithstanding, Pa Momoh Fofanah, the defense counsel objected to the cross examination implying that the state counsel was forcing his client of what he did not know about.
He stated that the witness did not provide the document to that effect to his cross examination.
O.V Robin Manson requested for an adjournment as they needed to have a group consultation before completion of the cross-examination.
Justice Adrian Fisher adjourned the matter to Thursday 8th February 2024.
