Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in
Abuja on Thursday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
to produce proof of evidence in a case filed by the anti-graft agency.
In the case, the EFCC accused persons and firms, including a former Director (Pension Administration) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Sani Shuaibu, and a former Deputy Director (Finance and Accounts), Phina Chidi, of stealing N12bn from the pension office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Counsel to the second accused person, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), had told the court that he had an oral application that would facilitate the trial of the accused persons.
Uche said, “The application is seeking for an order directing the prosecution to furnish the accused person with the proof of evidence.”
The application was not opposed by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Godwin Obla, who explained that though it was not the practice to avail the accused persons with the proof of evidence, he would do so as directed by the Court.
Obla said, in doing so, he had the right to produce further and additional material and that the EFCC had employed the services of forensic experts who have recalculated the amount involved in the scam.
He added that the anti-graft agency would consequently amend the charges to about 30 per cent without interfering with the substance of the charge.
Justice Adamu Bello thereafter granted the application and ordered the EFCC to produce the proof of evidence.
By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
In the case, the EFCC accused persons and firms, including a former Director (Pension Administration) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Sani Shuaibu, and a former Deputy Director (Finance and Accounts), Phina Chidi, of stealing N12bn from the pension office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Counsel to the second accused person, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), had told the court that he had an oral application that would facilitate the trial of the accused persons.
Uche said, “The application is seeking for an order directing the prosecution to furnish the accused person with the proof of evidence.”
The application was not opposed by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Godwin Obla, who explained that though it was not the practice to avail the accused persons with the proof of evidence, he would do so as directed by the Court.
Obla said, in doing so, he had the right to produce further and additional material and that the EFCC had employed the services of forensic experts who have recalculated the amount involved in the scam.
He added that the anti-graft agency would consequently amend the charges to about 30 per cent without interfering with the substance of the charge.
Justice Adamu Bello thereafter granted the application and ordered the EFCC to produce the proof of evidence.
By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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