A Katsina State High Court has adjourned hearing in the alleged N11 billion laundering suit against ex-Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, and three others, till June 12.
Arraigned with Shema are ex-Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hamisu Makana; former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Lawal Rufai; and ex-Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Lawal Dankaba.
They were charged with 24 counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Ibrahim Maikaita said the suit was adjourned for the second time because EFCC’s legal team did not serve the accused on time a document needed for cross-examination.
The document is said to be an enquiry report by the commission set up to investigate Shema’s tenure.
Shema’s lead counsel Joseph Daudu told the court the document was served on May 28, despite an April 10 court order for its release.
Daudu, who made the observation shortly after Ibrahim Dabo (former auditor-gGeneral), was called to the witness box, said the case was not ripe for continuation.
He said: “Had we been served on time, we would have fully prepared for today’s sitting. We have gone through the report but we believe we need enough time to do necessary background checks.
“Besides, Section 36 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, makes it our constitutional right to be given adequate time to study the materials.”
Lawyer for the other accused aligned with Daudu’s argument, and prayed the court to give their clients time to study the document.
However, EFCC’s lawyer Dr. Olatoke Olukayode (SAN) urged the court to disregard the arguments, saying any diligent counsel ought to have prepared for sittings whether or not he received documents on time.