The trial of former Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and Abuja based business man, Aliyu Abaubakar, did not hold on Tuesday due to Failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to supply names and particulars of witnesses.
When the trial came up counsel for the EFCC, Bala Sanga called his first witness, one Clement Osagie, an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, who was subpoena by the court
Abubakars’ Counsel Olalekan Ojo, objected to the witness on the grounds that he was unknown to his client as a witness of the EFCC in the trial relying on section 379 of the ACJA .
The lawyer drew the attention of the court to the charge and proof of evidence, adding that in breach of the enabling law, the prosecution did not list any of its witnesses and also failed to attach summary of the witnesses statements as required by law to enable them prepare their defence adequately.
In response the prosecution counsel said he got to know about the witness only on Monday evening, conceded to the argument and prayed the court for a short adjournment to comply with the law.
Justice Inyang Ekwo therefore adjourned trial to August 13, 2020 and ordered the prosecution to serve the defendants with all the particulars, processes that they are entitled to within 24 hours.
Adoke alongside an oil magnate Aliyu Abubakar are standing trial before the federal high court, Abuja on a 14- count amended criminal charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N4B.
EFCC had on August 4, re-arraigned Adoke and Abubakar on a 14 count amended charge bordering on alleged money laundering and corruption.
In the amended charge, Adoke was accused of collecting the sum of N300M from Abubakar as alleged proceeds of unlawful activities in 2013 while in the same year, he was said to have collected another sum of $2.2M from one Rislanudeen Muhammed.
On the other hand, the second defendant, Aliyu Abubakar, was said to have in September 2013 received cash payment of $2M and another $4M from one Abdulkareem Mustapha while in September and October same year he was alleged to have collected another sum of $84.000.
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In another charge, the second defendant was accused of receiving $3M and concealing the source of same and received $12M being proceeds of alleged unlawful act.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
