A Minna High Court on Monday adjourned the trial of former
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger over an alleged N4.568billion
fraud indefinitely.
Aliyu is standing trial alongside the State PDP Chairman, Tanko
Beji and a former Commissioner of Environment, Umar Nasko, over
alleged N4.568billion fraud and abuse of office.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Sam Adda, counsel to
Nasko, prayed the court to adjourn the matter sine die
(indefinitely).
According to the counsel, the call for adjournment is due to an
appeal filed against the court’s decision to dismiss his
preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try
his client.
Adda said that he had applied to the Court of Appeal for an
order staying the proceedings of the trial at the state high court
pending the determination of his appeal.
He maintained that continuing proceedings at the state high
court while there was an application for stay of proceedings before
a superior court would amount to judicial rascality.
The EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma, however, objected to the
application to adjourn the matter indefinitely.
He argued that stay of proceedings should not be granted in
cases prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.
He urged the court to dismiss the application as he was ready to
call his witnesses who were in court for commencement of trial.
In his ruling, Justice Aliyu Mayaki said it was important to
wait for the ruling of the Court of Appeal as regards the
application for stay of proceedings.
(NAN)
A Minna High Court on Monday adjourned the trial of former
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger over an alleged N4.568billion
fraud indefinitely.
Aliyu is standing trial alongside the State PDP Chairman, Tanko
Beji and a former Commissioner of Environment, Umar Nasko, over
alleged N4.568billion fraud and abuse of office.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Sam Adda, counsel to
Nasko, prayed the court to adjourn the matter sine die
(indefinitely).
According to the counsel, the call for adjournment is due to an
appeal filed against the court’s decision to dismiss his
preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try
his client.
Adda said that he had applied to the Court of Appeal for an
order staying the proceedings of the trial at the state high court
pending the determination of his appeal.
He maintained that continuing proceedings at the state high
court while there was an application for stay of proceedings before
a superior court would amount to judicial rascality.
The EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma, however, objected to the
application to adjourn the matter indefinitely.
He argued that stay of proceedings should not be granted in
cases prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.
He urged the court to dismiss the application as he was ready to
call his witnesses who were in court for commencement of trial.
In his ruling, Justice Aliyu Mayaki said it was important to
wait for the ruling of the Court of Appeal as regards the
application for stay of proceedings.
(NAN)
Read more https://nairalaw.com/trial-of-former-gov-aliyu-over-alleged-n4-6bn-fraud-adjourned-indefinitely/