Fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex- Power minister, four others in Maiduguri
Fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex- Power minister, four others in Maiduguri
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri has adjourned the trials ex-Minister of State for Power, Muhammad Wakil and four others over the case of 450 million Naira 2015 Presidential campaign to February 4, 2021, by Justice J.K Dagad in Maiduguri
Adjourning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, Justice Dagad disclosed that the defendants were alleged to have received N450 million.
According to him, the alleged collected sum of money were being part of $115 million (N43.7 billion) disbursed by ex-minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison Madueke to influence the outcome of 2015 presidential elections.
He added that the other four defendants include, Garba Abacha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr, Abubakar Ali Kullima and Muhammad Baba Kachalla.
While reading out the charges yesterday in Maiduguri, Justice Dad, said: “That you, Hon. Muhammad Wakil, Garba Abacha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr. Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla on or about the 26th day of March 2015 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Court, did agree among yourselves to do an
illegal act.
“You wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering;” thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended)”.
The defendants were first arraigned before Justice M.T Salihu on July 2, 2018. But his retirement from the bench necessitated the re-assignment of the case to a new judge
When the matter was called yesterday (Wednesday), the Court Registrar presented a letter from Nankham Ayuba Dammo, counsel to the first, second, and fourth defendants, wherein he informed the Court that he
was indisposed and asked for an adjournment on the ground of ill-health.
Counsel to the fifth defendant; Z. Hamza also sent a letter asking for an adjournment due to the fact that he was appearing in another matter before the Appeal Court, Gombe.
Fatsuma Muhammad, the prosecuting counsel, however; objected to the letter sent by counsel to the fifth defendant on the ground that no hearing notice from the Gombe Division of the Court of Appeal was attached.
He therefore; urged the court to discountenance his application.
After listening to counsel, Justice Dagad therefore; adjourned the case till February 4, 2021.
Fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex- Power minister, four others in Maiduguri
