JUSTICE Hussein Baba Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama yesterday adjourned till December 5, for the adoption of final written addresses on trial-within-trial called by Veronica Onyegbula.
The matter was adjourned due to the late appearance of the prosecutor in court.
Onyegbula is the fourth defendant in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against her and six others. They were accused of diverting N14 billion police pension fund.
Others are: Esar Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang, and Christian Madubuke.
Onyegbula’s counsel, Mr. Ernest Ikeji, had earlier informed the court that the EFCC forced her to make statements, which the commission wanted to tender. The lawyer, therefore, prayed for trial-within-trial.
She told the court that in all she made 10 statements, five of which were dictated to her and that the EFCC asked her to cooperate so that they would call her as a witness to testify against her directors.
Onyegbula added that she was promised by the EFCC that if she cooperates, her name would be dropped from the allegations.
The judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, had ordered for trial-within-trial to ascertain whether Onyegbula’s statements to the EFCC were done voluntarily.
The prosecution had called three witnesses and closed their case while Onyegbula testified by herself and closed her case.