DSO: ICPC Fails To Produce Lai Mohammed As Witness, Closes Its Case

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC), failed to produce the Minister of Information,
Lai Mohammed in court, to testify as a prosecution witness in the
ongoing trial of the Director-General of National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC), Ishaq Kawu Modibbo, Pinnacle Communications Ltd,
and two others.

On October 21, the last adjourned date, the trial Judge, Justice
Folashade Ogunbanjo- Giwa had threatened to close the case of ICPC
against the defendants if it fails to produce Mr Mohammed and a
subpoenaed bureau de change operator in court as a witness on
December 3.

Despite the failure of the ICPC to produce the Information
Minister to testify in court, a statement he made to the agency,
tendered in court, indicated that he gave the approval for the
release of N2.5 billion to the National Broadcasting Corporation as
seed grant for the Digital Switch Over project of the Federal
Government.

Prosecution counsel, Mr Henry Emoreh informed the court that
though the case was for continuation of trial, he intends to close
the case of the prosecution as he is not calling any more
witnesses.

Reacting to the sudden decision of the prosecution to close its
case, counsel to Mr Modibbo, Mr Akeem Mustapha said he would not be
calling any witnesses.

Mr Mustapha said pursuant to section 303 of the Administration
of Criminal Justice Act 2015, he would be asking for the maximum 14
days to file the first defendant’s no-case-submission.

Similarly, Mr Alex Iziyon who is the counsel to the second and
third defendants said he would not be calling any witness and
therefore requested for the maximum 14 days period allowed by ACJ
act to file a no-case-submission.

Reacting, the prosecution counsel told the court that he needed
21 days to reply to all the proposed applications for
no-case-submissions of the defendants.

In a short ruling, Justice Ogunbanjo- Giwa noted that it would
take 42 days for counsel to file and exchange processes in respect
of the application for no-case-submissions.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to January 30,
2020, for adoption.