The Federal High Court sitting in Minna has ordered the issuance of hearing notice on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing money laundering case against former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general elections, Umar Mohammed Nasko.
The order followed the sequential absence of the EFCC counsel without correspondence to the court.
The court had fixed 10th and 11th December for continuation of trial during which the EFCC was expected to present additional witnesses.
However, counsel to the Commission failed to appear in court even as there was no communication to the court stating reasons for the absence.
The court therefore adjourned to Tuesday for continuation of hearing.
However at the resume hearing today, Counsel to the EFCC was also absent.
Counsel to Muazu Babaginda Aliyu, Chief Ayodele Oladeji (SAN), told the court that information at his disposal indicates that the EFCC’s counsel was absent due to the wife’s ill-health.
But Counsel to Nasko disassociated himself from Chief Oladeji’s position, saying the information on the reason for the absence of EFCC’s Counsel was based on hearsay.
He averred that the ethics of the profession demands that in the event that a counsel cannot make it to the court on a date fixed for hearing, such person should communicate the absence formally to the court.
He therefore urged the court to slate another date for the continuation of the hearing.
Justice Yellim Bogoro therefore adjourned the case to 6th and 7th of March, 2019 for continuation of trial.
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