Justice Abubakar Umar also threatened to revoke the bail granted to former Director-General of Abuja Geographic Information System, Mrs. Altine Jibrin, for not appearing in court for trial.
The judge, therefore, ordered the two accused persons to appear before him on Thursday to explain the reasons for their absence.
He said, “The accused must remember that they have the constitutional duty to appear everytime their matter comes up after being granted bail.
“I am giving the two accused persons one last chance to appear before me on Thursday to show cause why their bail should not be revoked.
“If they give me frivolous reasons, I will revoke their bail. They should know that the court can revoke the bail.’’
Umar granted bail to El-Rufai on April 7, on self-recognition, being a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also granted bail to Jibrin in the sum of N10m.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kate Suleiman, informed the judge that El-Rufai and Jibrin were not present in court.
She also said that only the third accused, Samaila Iro, a former General Manager of AGIS, was in court.
Suleiman informed the court that although the counsel to the accused persons, Chief Akin Olujimi, had written to the court asking for an adjournment, nothing was said about the accused person’s absence.
El-Rufai, Jibrin and Iro are standing trial on an eight-count charge of corruption by the EFCC.
They are being accused of abuse of office and revocation of plots of land belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and re-allotting same to their friends and family members.
By Agency Reporter Courtesy Of: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment