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Tag: Federal High Court

  • Alleged N650m fraud: Ex FCT minister seeks foreign medical travel

    Alleged N650m fraud: Ex FCT minister seeks foreign medical travel

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday fixed July 26 to hear an application by a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, seeking approval to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Akinjide is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged fraud of N650m.

    Through her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), she appeared before Justice Chuka Obiozor, to argue the application.

    But the matter could not proceed as the judge noted that it was not listed for hearing for the day.

    Justice Obiozor, subsequently, adjourned hearing till July 26.

    The judge, however, hinted that he might not be inclined to grant the application as Akinjide was not being tried before him and he was not the one who admitted the ex-minister to bail.

    But Ayorinde assured the judge that he had spoken with all parties involved, adding that the EFCC which might not oppose the application.

    Last June 22, the EFCC arraigned Akinjide and one Chief Olanrewaju Otiti before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.

    The ex-minister was accused of conspiring with Otiti to launder a sum of N650m, which she allegedly collected out of the $115m allegedly doled out by a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezaani Alison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.

    The EFCC said they acted contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2012 punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the Act.

    They pleaded not guilty to the 24 counts.

  • Court remands ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki in Kuje prison

    …Arraigned on 32 count over alleged N36b fraud.

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday ordered that former Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki be remanded in Kuje prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    By the order given by Justice Nnamdi Dimba, Turaki is to remain in prison pending when he is able to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him after he was arraigned, with three companies, on a 32-count charge, in which they were accused of laundering about N36billion

    Turaki, who was earlier granted bail on liberal terms on July 14 by the vacation judge of the High Court of the FCT, Justice Yusuf Halilu, was arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday on a charge filed in 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge is marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/86/2007.

    The ex-Governor, who was rearrested by the EFCC on July 4 at a social function in Abuja, after jumping bail and allegedly evading arrest for about six years, was arraigned on Tuesday with three companies -INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd and Wildcat Construction Ltd.

    After the arraignment and the argument on the bail application made by defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Justice Dimgba noted that in view of the bail earlier granted Turaki by the High Court of the FCT, he was minded to grant bail.

    He directed lawyers for the parties: Mohammed Abubakar for the EFCC and Raji for the defence, to agree on terms on which the Turaki could be granted bail.

    After a meeting between the lawyers, the reported the agreed terms to the court, which the judge partially adopted and granted Turaki bail at N500million, with two sureties at N250,000 each, who must either be businessmen or civil servants not below the level of a director and must own properties in FCT, including the satellite towns.

    The judge ordered to submit his travel documents to the court, and is to seek the court’s permission before travelling abroad. He is to report to the EFCC one in a month.

    Justice Dimgba directed the EFCC to liaise with the registrar of the court to verify whether or not Turaki meets the bail conditions, following which the EFCC is to send a letter to the court confirming verification.

    The judge said, should the EFCC fails to do that within 24 hours of the defence meeting bail, the defence can write to the court informing it that the EFCC did not write to verify.

    Justice Dimgba, who is the court’s current vacation judge in Abuja, adjourned further proceedings in the case to September 19, the date earlier chosen by the trial judge at the Federal High Court, Dutse, Jigawa State, where Turaki reportedly jumped bail about six years ago, following which a bench warrant was issued by the court for his arrest.

    The judge also said further proceedings in the case shall resume at the court’s Dutse division.

    Dressed in a white native attire (agbada and a cap), Turaki wore long face as he stepped off the dock, shortly after the judge’s pronouncement.

    Some of the counts in the charge read: “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) on or about May 3, 2006 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court did collaborate in concealing the genuine nature of the sum of N8,004,000,000, which sum was diverted from an illegal act and you thereby committed  an offence punishable under section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.

    “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki on or about 15th July 2006 at Abuja, did conspire with INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) to launder the sum of N5.200,000,000 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17(a) of the Monet laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.

    “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) on or about 3rd May 2006, did collaborate in concealing the genuine nature of the sum of $20,000,000 which sum was derived from an illegal act and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.”

     

  • Alleged N53.7 m fraud: Court orders interim forfeiture of Lagos Hotel

    Alleged N53.7 m fraud: Court orders interim forfeiture of Lagos Hotel

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites over alleged N53.7 million fraud.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor issued the forfeiture order of the hotel located on Igbogbo-Mayegun Road in Ikorodu, Lagos State, following
    an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge issued order for the EFCC to take over the hotel for 21 days to enable it to conclude its investigations on the alleged fraud.

    The EFCC had in its ex parte application on Tuesday told the court that it believed that the hotel was acquired with proceeds
    of fraud by Mr Fredrick Ebiesuwa.

    It avers that Ebiesuwa is believed to be the ring leader of fraudsters based in Ibadan.

    According to the commission, Ebiesuwa also has accomplices in Lagos.

    On Tuesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina, told the court that the anti-graft agency sought to take over the hotel
    to prevent the suspected fraudsters from disposing of it while investigation is still ongoing.

    Ogunsina said the EFCC was investigating Ebiesuwa and his accomplices, who were still at large, based on a petition it received from one Dunni Olagbegi.

    He said Olagbegi claimed to have been duped by the suspected fraudsters to the tune of N53.7 million.

    After listening to the arguments of the counsel, Justice Obiozor, in a short ruling, granted the application empowering the anti-graft agency to take over Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites for 21 days.

    The judge however, directed the anti-graft agency to paste the court’s order in a conspicuous place on the premises of the hotel.

    He adjourned further proceedings until Aug. 9.

     

  • Court declines to release Jonathan’s ex aide’s passport for foreign travel

    Court declines to release Jonathan’s ex aide’s passport for foreign travel

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday declined to order the release of the international passport of a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor, a vacation judge, refused to entertain Dudafa’s application, saying he was not convinced that there was any emergency.

    Dudafa’s application urged the court to release his passport to enable him to travel abroad to treat a spinal cord injury.

    He allegedly sustained the injury while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Dudafa, who is facing a N5.1billion fraud trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the same court, deposited his passport in the court’s custody as part of his bail conditions.

    But he told Justice Obiozor that he needed to urgently travel abroad for a medical appointment and urged the court to release the passport to him.

    Defence counsel Kolawole Salami said the medical appointment was earlier scheduled for July 18 and 19, 2017 but had to be rescheduled for July 28, 2017 as Dudafa had yet to get access to his passport.

    He urged Justice Obiozor to hear and grant the application, saying his client’s health was at stake.

    But his prayer failed to convince the judge.

    The judge reasoned that if there was truly an emergency, Dudafa would have ensured that his application, which was filed since May, was heard by Justice Mohammed Idris who ordered him to deposit the passport, before the judge proceeded on vacation.

    Justice Obiozor rejected Salami’s explanation that hearing of the application before Justice Idris was stalled due to the EFCC’s failure to respond to the application despite being served.

    He said he would not be the one to release Dudafa’s passport to him, and directed him to wait till October 16, 2017 when Justice Idris, who ordered Dudafa to deposit the passport, would have returned from vacation.

    “Let him reschedule to October; he can reschedule to October,” Justice Obiozor said.

    The EFCC is prosecuting Dudafa on 23 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.

    He is standing trial alongside his ex-account officer at Heritage Bank, Joseph Iwuejo, who was said to have aided him to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that between June 2013 and June 2015, Dudafa and Iwuejo, who also claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, used different companies to fraudulently launder various sums of money running into N5.1bn.

    But Dudafa and Iwuejo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

     

  • Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Akeredolu had, by the appeal, challenged an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, granting permission to Olusegun Abraham to serve Akeredolu through substituted means, court documents in relation to the suit he (Abraham) filed.

    Abraham’s suit is challenging the outcome of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in Ondo State.

    The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, grabting leave to Abraham to serve Akeredolu thorugh substituted means.

    Justive Abdu Aboki, in the lead judgment, said the lower court was right in ordering substituted service on Akeredolu through the headquarter of the APC.

    He also considered as proper service the decision of the court to allow Abraham serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its headquarters in Abuja.

    Akeredolu’s appeal was against the ruling by the Federal High Court delivered on December 16, 2016 granting leave to Abraham to effect service through substituted means on the defendants.
    Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Abraham’s lawyer, Johnson Usman expressed delight over the court’s decision.

    He said the verdict of the court will afford his client the opportunity to expose the irregularities in the APC primary election.

    Usman said the coast is now clear for his client to prove, through his case, that  the September 3, 2016 primary election of the APC that produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate was marred with irregularities.

    Lawyer to Akeredolu, Oluseyi Adetanmi said he will consult with his client before deciding on what further steps to take.

    Proceedings in the substantive case before the Federal High Court, Abuja has been adjourned indefinitely to await the outcome of Akeredolu’s appeal.

    Abraham, who was the first runner up in the primary election, is praying the court for among others, an order nullifying Akeredolu’s election

  • Court awards punitive cost against absence of Evans lawyer

    Court awards punitive cost against absence of Evans lawyer

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday awarded a punitive cost of N20,000 against a lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who represents suspected kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, for being absent.

    A fundamental rights case filed by Evans was billed to be heard before Justice Abdulazeez Anka, but the lawyer wrote the court a letter saying he took ill.

    Ogungbeje apologised for his absence and urged the court to adjourn the case to another date.

    But, a lawyer who represented the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr Emmanuel Eze, opposed Ogungbeje’s application for an adjournment.

    He said the applicant’s lawyer did not inform the police that he would be absent; adding that any other lawyer from Ogungbeje’s office could have come to represent Evans.

    According to him, it was an “affront” to the court for Ogungbeje not to send another lawyer to stand in for him.

    “In view of this, we are of the view that the applicant’s counsel is most unserious with this application. We, therefore, ask for a punitive cost of N100, 000 against the applicant and his counsel,” he said.

    Ruling, Justice Anka awarded N20,000 cost against Ogungbeje, which he said must be paid before the next adjourned date otherwise the case would not be heard.

    He held: “Counsel wrote a letter seeking for an adjournment without copying the prosecution. This, to me, is unprofessional. The court hereby warns counsel to desist from such type of practice.”

    The judge said the facts before him shows that the applicant was still in police custody.

    “In the circumstances, cost is awarded in the sum of N20, 000 against counsel to the applicant to be paid on or before the next adjourned date or counsel shall not be heard,” Justice Anka said.

    The judge sits during the court’s long vacation and hears only urgent motions and cases bordering on human rights violations. The nine-week vacation will end on September 8.

    Evans sued the Inspector-General of Police over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

    He is praying the court to compel the police to charge him to court or to release him unconditionally rather than detaining him indefinitely since June 10.

    Evans is also demanding N300million damages and an apology for the alleged violation of his rights, adding that his continued detention without trial was illegal and violated sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution. .

    The Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the Lagos State Police Command are the other respondents.

    Evan’s father, Stephen Onwuamadike, said in a supporting affidavit that since his son’s arrest, all his family members were allegedly denied access to him except newsmen.

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, said Evans’ detention was to allow for thorough investigation.

    “All those who want Evans released did not know that the police had obtained a 90-day warrant to detain him,” said Kyari, who led a special squad that smashed Evans’ gang.

    Evans had also reportedly denied instructing any lawyer to file a suit on his behalf.

    “I have no hand in any case filed against the police and I did not speak with any lawyer or my father to file a case on my behalf,” he was quoted as saying in a television interview.

    Ogungbeje, however, told our correspondent that he was instructed by Evans’ family to file the suit.

    The lawyer said Evans’ father was personally in court to depose to an affidavit in support of the case.

    Justice Anka adjourned until July 20 for hearing.

     

  • My suspension intended to gag me – Ndume

    My suspension intended to gag me – Ndume

    …Urges court to void Senate recommendation on him

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (All Progressives Congress, Borno South Senatorial District) has said his suspension was intended by the leadership of the Senate to silence him and prevent him from commenting on what he perceived to be wrong.

    Ndume accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Senate leadership of ignoring intervention from traditional rulers from his part of the country, who have intervened to have him recalled.

    The Senator, who faulted his suspension for 90 days, said the Senate was without powers to suspend him from his seat and deny his constituency its deserved representation.
    Ndume said these in a suit filed by his lawyer, Marcel Oru, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/551/2017 has the Senate President, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions) as defendants.

    Ndume argued that his suspension was intended by the Senate leadership to get back at him for merely raising questions about issues relating to the conduct of privileged individuals in the Senate.

    The Senator was suspended when he drew the Senate leadership’s attention to media publications to the effect the Senate harassment of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Hameed Ali was in respect of the seizure of a vehicle imported for Saraki, using forged papers. And the controversy over Dino Melaye’s educational qualifications.

    He noted that fellow legislators, who made similar observations in the past were neither suspended not penalised as was done to him under the Saraki-led Senate.

    Ndume said: “Senators of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or members of the House of Representatives and indeed, all legislators have the privilege to express themselves on the floor of the Senate or House of Reps and all previous matters as the present one have not attracted suspension or punitive action.

    “In the scandal on variation in the name of Evan Enwerem, the Senator, who raised the matter was not suspended. In the certificate scandal involving Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, the member, who raised the issue was not punished after clearance of Masari.

    “In the certificate scandal involving Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the member, who raised the issue was not punished after the clearance of Bankole. In the certificate scandal involving Hon. Patricia Etteh, the member, who raised the issue was not punished after the investigation and clearance of Etteh.

    Ndume said, in a supporting affidavit to his originating summons, that his purported suspension was “a calculated attempt to gag, intimidate and indeed, over awe me and any outspoken Senator of my ilk and fore close me the right to represent the people of Borno South Senatorial District.

    He said: “The committee was to investigate the veracity or otherwise of the aforesaid allegations contained therein and not to impose any punishment on me as I was not the author of the publications and the issue of punishment came to me as a rude shock as I was not given any fair hearing on the issue of my suspension for allegations that I never published.

    “The authors of the aforesaid publications were, at no time, invited by the committee in its investigation nor were they heard or sanctioned by the committee. The committee, in recommending punishment/sanction of suspension of 181 legislative days (one year) for me went or acted outside their powers.

    “I am a member of the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI) charged with the responsibility of the reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation, using the Buhari plan and my suspension will deprive me and my constituents of meaningful contributions thereto.

    “All attempts by the Governor of Borno State, traditional rulers from Borno State, distinguished and eminent personalities from the North East region of Nigeria to resolve my suspension with the 1st and 3nd defendant has proved abortive to resolve and recall me,” Ndume said.

    He wants the court to declare his suspension unlawful and to set aside the purported suspension contained in a letter by the Senate dated March 30, 2017.

    Ndume, who seeks N500m compensation for his unlawful suspension, urged the court to order Saraki amd the Senate to pay him all his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith.

    On July 6, Justice Babatunde Quadri directed the service of processes on the defendants, which the plaintiff effected last Monday.

    Hearing in the case has been fixed for September 1.

  • Court dismisses Tompolo’s suit seeking to void ACJA sections

    Court dismisses Tompolo’s suit seeking to void ACJA sections

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday dismissed a suit by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    Tompolo, who was declared wanted last February 12, was charged with an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

    He sought an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to the extent of their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”

    Through his lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, he said the sections were unconstitutional because they prevent a court from entertaining any objection to a criminal charge or an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    Section 221 says: “Objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the ground of an imperfect or erroneous charge.”

    Section 306 says: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.”

    But, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the suit was an abuse of court process and should be dismissed.

    He said a warrant of arrest was issued for Tompolo’s arrest only when he failed to appear in court to answer to criminal charges against him.

    “He failed and bluntly refused to present himself in court, thus leaving the court with no other option but to take measures at compelling him to appear,” AGF said.

    Malami said sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA do not infringe on Tompolo’s rights to fair hearing.

    The sections, he said, were made to ensure speedy and efficient justice delivery and prevent “malicious delays and stalling of criminal cases by parties employing frivolous and time wasting tactics to impede the course of justice.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was also joined in the suit, said Tompolo was “a fugitive in law”, and so, should not be allowed to seek redress in court until he submits himself for trial.

    It argued that given the materials placed before the court, it was clear that Tompolo was in contempt of the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had earlier compelled his attendance in court to answer to charges preferred against him.

    EFCC described the application as an abuse of court process, since it was trite that a party who was in contempt of court cannot seek redress.

    He urged the court to throw out the application for lacking in merit.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola held that the Supreme Court had affirmed that whether a charge was defective or not, an accused person was bound to first take his plea.

    The judge said the apex court had confirmed the validity of the ACJA sections, which were designed to enhance speedy criminal justice administration.

    She said it was in the defendant’s interest for the case be decided quickly, which the law was designed to achieve.

    She dismissed Tompolo’s suit but awarded no cost.

    Adegboruwa told our correspondent that Tompolo would appeal the judgment.

    “Of course we’ll appeal,” he said.

     

  • Alleged link with Boko Haram: Court frees Ndume

    Alleged link with Boko Haram: Court frees Ndume

    About six years into his trial, a Federal High Court in Abuja has freed Senator Ali Ndume (All Progressives Congress, Borno State) of terrorism related charges brought against him in 2011 by the Goodluck Jonathan government.

    In a ruling this afternoon, Justice Gabriel Kolawole upheld Ndume’s no-case submission and proceeded to discharge and acquit him.

    The judge said the prosecution failed, through evidence led, to link the defendant (Ndume) to the offences alleged, to warrant his being called to enter defence.

    Justice Kolawole noted that although Ndume admitted volunteering information to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and other security agencies, no representatives of any of the agencies were called as witness by the prosecution.

    Ndume was charged with among others, withholding information about the operations of Boko Haram and having link and communicating with some of its leaders.

    The defendant had, in his no-case submission, claimed to have been involved in negotiation with Boko Haram leaders at the instance of the then Federal Government led by President Jonathan.

    He said former Vice President and the Director General of the DSS during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration were aware of his interactions with a Boko Haram member, Ali Konduga.

    He said his link with Konduga, who has since been convicted on terrorism related charges, was at the behest of the presidential committee set up under the Jonathan government to help address security challenges in the North-East part of the country.

    The Senator was arraigned on December 12, 2011 on a four-count charge relating to terrorism charges. He was accused of, among other counts, sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, maintaining a link with the sect member and failing to disclose the phone number of Konduga, which was alleged to be in his (Ndume’s) possession.

    The prosecution commenced trial on July 3, 2012 and closed its case on June 22, 2016, after calling nine witnesses, following which Ndume opted for a no-case submission.

    Ndume’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) had, while adopting his no-case submission on June 6 this year, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on the ground that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

    Tarfa said the prosecution was unable to lead sufficient evidence link his client with the offences alleged.

    He said Ndume’s contact with Boko Haram came about when the senator was a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Matters in the North-East of the country.

    Reacting to the court’s decision, Ndume dressed in white robe (agbada and white cap) thank God for spearing his life to witness his acquittal.

    “I thank God for spearing my life. Many Senators, who have cases against them have died, but here I am and well. I am grateful to God,” he said.

  • Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    …Court admits more evidence against Nyako in N29bn fraud trial

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has frowned at the conduct of a defence lawyer in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

    Agbele is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro (who was arraigned in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye on 11-count charge in which they are accused of laundering about N1.2 billion.

    The money is said to be part of the N4.7billion allegedly transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by Obanikoro’s son.

    At the last proceedings on May 24, 2017 the court ordered Agbele’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who had applied orally to withdraw appearance for the second defendant – Sylvan McNamara – to file a formal application to that effect within three days and serve copies on other parties in the case.

    Yesterday, Ozekhome was absent, but sent a junior, Godwin Iyinbor, who informed the court that his principal were yet to serve the application as ordered by the court.

    An infuriated lead prosecution lawyer, Wahab Shittu said: “this is a calculated attempt by the learned silk (Ozekhome) to frustrate the trial process and it should be discouraged”.

    Shittu described the development as unhealthy. He noted that the prosecution has consistently produced its witnesses to court at great cost.

    Another defence lawyer, Olalekan Ojo also wrote the court that he was attending an interview for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) slated for Monday and Tuesday at the Supreme Court and sought for an adjournment.

    Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted Ojo’s application, but frowned at Ozekhome’s conduct.

    He ordered service of the application by Ozekhome on parties before the next adjourned date and adjourned to October 12 and 13, 2017.

    Meanwhile, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday admitted in evidence documents tendered by the prosecution in the trial of a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako.

    Nyako is standing trial on a 37-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29billion. He is being tried with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.

    Companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds are – Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    One of the documents tendered by the prosecution yesterday, through the 12th prosecution witness, Caroline Utsaha, showed that N80million deposit was made in a day in the name of Blue Opal Limited; one of the companies allegedly used by the former governor to siphon the state funds.

    The documents tendered and admitted in evidence include: Letter dated July 21, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Blue Opal Limited – Exhibit H1.

    Letter dated August 15, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Opal Corporate Limited – Exhibit H2.

    Letter dated February 26, 2015, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Crust Energy Limited, and was admitted as Exhibit H3.

    Led in evidnce by lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Utsaha, a Relationship Manager with First Bank said: “In 2014, the EFCC wrote our Bank, requesting for details of the accounts packages and statements of accounts of three accounts.

    “The accounts were: Blue Opal Limited, Opal Corporate Limited and Crust Energy Limited. I got all they requested and did a forwarding letter to the Commission and also did an identification letter, indicating that the statements and all the documents are from First Bank.”

    When asked to look at Exhibit H1 and tell the court about the transactions therein, the witness said, “The entries here are series of deposits of Zenith bank cheque”.

    She went on: “On March 29, 2012, there were eight deposits of Zenith bank cheque of N10million each. The deposits were done on the same day”.

    Justice Abang later adjourned to July 4, 2017 for the continuation of hearing.