Justice A. B. Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has acceded to request by the Federal Government to be allowed to produce for arraignment, officials of Supreme Court charged with diversion of N2.2billion.
The Fed Govt had, on November 3 filed a nine-count charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/13/2016 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Maitama against Saleh, Muhammed Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal.
They are charged with conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for allegedly diverting N2.2bn belonging to the apex court and receiving gratification as public officers.
The three officials of the Supreme Court are also accused of receiving N74.4m gratification from contractors between 2009 and 2016.
The contractors from which they allegedly received the gratification are Willysdave Ltd., Welcon Nig. Ltd., Dean Musa Nig. Ltd., Ababia Ventures Ltd. and MBR Computers Ltd.
When the case was called yesterday before Justice Mohammed, it was only the prosecution lawyer that announcer appearance.
Mrs. Hajara Yusuf, who announced appearance for the prosecution, told that court that the charge was only served on the defendants the previous day.
She noted that although a name was written on the court’s cause list for the defendant, she was not sure why the lawyer refused to be identufued.
Mrs. Yusuf prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution produce the defendants for arraignment.
“My lord, we learnt from the court’s registrt that the defendants were served the previous day. Sine they are not in court today, we seek a short adjournment to enable us produce them in court for the purpose of arraignment.”
Based on the information by the prosecution lawyer that a lawyer had written his name on the cause list for the defence, Justice Mohammed sought to know who Adetayo Adeyemi (the name on the list) was.
Upon the judge’s announcement, a male lawyer stood up from the last seat at the bar, identified himself as Adetayo Adeyemi.
He told the court that he mistakenly wrote his name in the position meant for defendant’s lawyers in the cause list.
“I am sorry my lord I wrote my name on the list for the defence in this case in error. I am sorry,” Adeyemi said.
Before announcing that he accepted Adeyemi’s apology, Justice Mohammed wondered why a lawyer would write his name in a case he is not appearing in.
He consequently adjourned to November 17 for arraignment.
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