The trial of Phina Chidi, a former
assistant director, Pension Department, Office of the Head of Service of
the Federation, Franklin Nwankwo and Pam Investment properties before
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court Abuja could not
proceed due to the absence of counsel to the first accused person, Chris
Uche, SAN.
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to the third accused, Godwin Uche informed the court that Uche could not make it to court because he was indisposed.
He said that, the learned silk had earlier called to inform him that, he was not feeling too good.
In the circumstance, he prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him recover and be present in court.
Commenting, counsel to the second accused, MCM Ozioko aligned himself with the prayer of third defence counsel saying he was not averse to the application for adjournment.
Responding, counsel to EFCC, Godwin Obla, SAN, stated that, he had four witnesses present in court.
He said that, the adjournment sought by the defence would have been strongly opposed if not for reasons of ill health.
Justice Kolawole, after listening to the submissions of the counsel adjourned the case to April 21 and 22, 2015 for continuation of trial while ordering the accused persons to continue with the bail already granted them by the court.
The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 15-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of N1,638,960,125.75 (one billion, six hundred and thirty eighty million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and twenty five naira, seventy five kobo and $2,000,000.00 (two million US dollars).
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to the third accused, Godwin Uche informed the court that Uche could not make it to court because he was indisposed.
He said that, the learned silk had earlier called to inform him that, he was not feeling too good.
In the circumstance, he prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him recover and be present in court.
Commenting, counsel to the second accused, MCM Ozioko aligned himself with the prayer of third defence counsel saying he was not averse to the application for adjournment.
Responding, counsel to EFCC, Godwin Obla, SAN, stated that, he had four witnesses present in court.
He said that, the adjournment sought by the defence would have been strongly opposed if not for reasons of ill health.
Justice Kolawole, after listening to the submissions of the counsel adjourned the case to April 21 and 22, 2015 for continuation of trial while ordering the accused persons to continue with the bail already granted them by the court.
The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 15-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of N1,638,960,125.75 (one billion, six hundred and thirty eighty million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and twenty five naira, seventy five kobo and $2,000,000.00 (two million US dollars).
Culled from Nigeria Pilot
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