A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on
Wednesday, ordered the former Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Hassan
Lawal, facing a 29-count charge on a N75.7bn fraud to be remanded in
Kuje Prisons.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the court ordered seven others, who are facing the same charges alongside Lawal, to be remanded in the EFCC custody.
The statement said the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, gave the order after the accused persons took plea to the charges preferred against them and arguments on a petition by the lawyers to the accused persons were entertained.
According to the statement, the accused persons had, through their lawyers, petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, asking him to withdraw the suit from the trial judge over alleged bias.
The statement said Justice Aliyu, after Wednesday’s court proceeding, adjourned the matter to June 13 to allow the CJ take a decision on the defence’s petition.
It added that the EFCC, through its lawyer, Wahab Shittu, had on Tuesday sought the leave of the court to amend the earlier 24-count charge to include five new ones thus bringing the total to 29.
It further said that counsel to the accused, Ibrahim Ishaku (SAN), challenged the amendment on the grounds that it was structurally defective because it was signed by a counsel in Shittu’s chambers without the counsel’s name.
Justice Aliyu, according to the statement, in her ruling held that the amendment stood and the prosecution was at liberty to amend its charges at any point in the course of the trial.
The EFCC had on May 11 arraigned Lawal on a 24-count charge bordering on fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to about N75.7bn.
Other accused persons standing trial alongside Lawal are: Dr. Adeogba Ademola, Okala Yakubu, Thahal Paul, Digital Toll Company Ltd, Swede Control Interlink Ltd, Proman Vital Ventures Ltd, Siraj Nigeria Ltd and Wise Health Services
By Ade Adesomoju Courtesy Of: Punch
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the court ordered seven others, who are facing the same charges alongside Lawal, to be remanded in the EFCC custody.
The statement said the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, gave the order after the accused persons took plea to the charges preferred against them and arguments on a petition by the lawyers to the accused persons were entertained.
According to the statement, the accused persons had, through their lawyers, petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, asking him to withdraw the suit from the trial judge over alleged bias.
The statement said Justice Aliyu, after Wednesday’s court proceeding, adjourned the matter to June 13 to allow the CJ take a decision on the defence’s petition.
It added that the EFCC, through its lawyer, Wahab Shittu, had on Tuesday sought the leave of the court to amend the earlier 24-count charge to include five new ones thus bringing the total to 29.
It further said that counsel to the accused, Ibrahim Ishaku (SAN), challenged the amendment on the grounds that it was structurally defective because it was signed by a counsel in Shittu’s chambers without the counsel’s name.
Justice Aliyu, according to the statement, in her ruling held that the amendment stood and the prosecution was at liberty to amend its charges at any point in the course of the trial.
The EFCC had on May 11 arraigned Lawal on a 24-count charge bordering on fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to about N75.7bn.
Other accused persons standing trial alongside Lawal are: Dr. Adeogba Ademola, Okala Yakubu, Thahal Paul, Digital Toll Company Ltd, Swede Control Interlink Ltd, Proman Vital Ventures Ltd, Siraj Nigeria Ltd and Wise Health Services
By Ade Adesomoju Courtesy Of: Punch
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