Hearing
on a suit filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
against the former Minister of Aviation, Babalola Borishade and four
others before Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar of the FCT High Court sitting
in Maitama, Abuja, was stalled on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 on the
request of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, for brief on the
matter.
Though
both parties were present in court, Justice Umar informed them that the
matter could not go on as planned as the AGF requested for a brief on
the case by the EFCC since the matter had been in court for about 7
years.
He
presented a letter dated February 2, 2016 from the AGF requesting for
an adjournment of the case and records of court proceedings so far.
Counsel
to EFCC, Chile Okoroma told the court that, his hands were tied with
regards to continuing the proceeding as the AGF being the Chief Law
Officer, has power over him.
According
to Okoroma, “under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and
Section 174 of the Constitution, the AGF has the power to take over,
continue or discontinue a case.”
Counsel
to the first defendant, Kehinde Ogunwumiju and Regina Okotie- Eboh
representing the 4th and 5th defendants who had initially sought for a
dismissal of the case which was earlier slated for ruling today, could
not have their applications taken as a result of the letter from the
AGF.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to February 17, 2016 for ruling and continuation of hearing pending the decision of the AGF.
Borishade,
his former personal assistant, Tunde Dairo, and two others allegedly
mismanaged a N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.
Others
on trial for the alleged offence are former Managing Director of
Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Rowland Iyayi; an Australian, George
Eider and Avsatel Communications Ltd.
The
suspects were arraigned on November 19, 2009 by the EFCC on a 15-count
charge of taking bribe and forging aviation contract documents.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
3rd February, 2016
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