Eba Kandovazu
FORMER Fishcor Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mike Nghipunya, has this afternoon denied he owned 50 percent of shares in a company the State alleges he co-owns with one of the suspects, Phillipus Mwapopi.
The close corporation company, Wanakadu Investment, is accused of selling dried fish to Fishcor for N$4,2 million. State Advcocate Cliff Lutibezi disclosed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Mwapopi and Nghipunya. In the MOU, Nghipunya appears to be a silent partner. Nghipunya rejects the document, which the State says was taken from his laptop.
Nghipunya’s lawyer, Thabang Phatela, unsuccessfully objected to the laptop and its contents. Nghipunya says anyone could have gotten hold of the laptop and forged his electronic signature, which is contained on the last page of the document. According to him, the fact that Mwapopi’s signature is not on the document, is also a cause for concern. He rejected the document, saying it is also undated and has no witness signature.
Nghipunya also denies having had interest in Otneel Shuudifonya’s company ,Ndjako Investment, although documents indicate he applied for the reservation of the CC’s name in 2010, and there was an agreement he would own 50 percent of Ndjako.
The former CEO however acknowledgeds that the said companies bought assets on his behalf, terming it a ‘financial engineering agreement’.
Mwapopi and Shuudifonya will be testifying in person, for their bail applications. Former Justice Minister, Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelula will not be testifying in person as they have opted for a bail application by way of affidavits. Former Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Bernard Esau, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Nigel van Wyk and Gustavo Ricardo are not applying for bail.
Judge Shafimana Ueitele is presiding over the matter.
