GALINJE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondent herein was arraigned before the Federal High Court on the 23rd December, 2008 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 47-counts charge of money-laundering to which he pleaded not guilty.
Thereafter the respondent was granted bail and the case was fixed for trial on the 24th of March, 2009. On the aforementioned date, one Olubayo Sodipo, an officer of the First Inland Bank Plc was called to give evidence in support of the prosecution’s case.In the course of his testimony, the prosecution applied to tender a certified copy of the computer generated statement of account of the respondent domiciled with the First Inland Bank Plc through him. Learned counsel for the respondent opposed the application on the ground that the computer generated statement of account is inadmissible, having regard to section 97 of the Evidence Act.
After listening to both sides, the learned trial Judge upheld the objection and rejected…