(EFCC Press Release) Justice Maikaita Bako of the Katsina State High Court on February 13, 2018 adjourned the corruption trial of Ibrahim Shema, former Katsina State governor alongside three others to April 10, 11 and 12, 2018.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Sam Ologunorisa, SAN, informed the court that the EFCC secured victory over Shema at the Supreme Court, which dismissed the application made by his counsel, J. B. Daudu, seeking to stop his trial.
Ologunorisa further informed the court that the copy of the Supreme Court judgment had been forwarded to the trial court for the “avoidance of doubt”.
Sam added that the prosecution had a pending motion for the amendment of the charge.
“There is a pending application filed on the 24 March 2017 and subject to convenience of the court, we intend to move the application, which is seeking leave to amend the charge,” he added.
Daudu on the other hand informed the court that part of the decision of the Supreme Court was that the prosecution availed the defendants with all the documents in respect of the matter. He informed the court that he had a pending application in that regard.
Daudu also raised issue on a motion earlier filed by the prosecution to amend the charge. He told the court that the said motion was signed by one M.S. Abubakar and the seal affixed to the motion belongs to one Uket. He therefore urged the court to render it void.
The prosecuting counsel in his reply argued and cited a decision of the Supreme Court which said that as long as there was a seal in the court it can be fixed.
Justice Bako agreed with the prosecution’s argument and stood down the matter for 10 minutes to allow the prosecution to fix the proper seal.
The case was thereafter adjourned to April 10,11 and 12 for further hearing.
Shema is being prosecuted alongside three others, Sani Hamisu Makana, Lawal Ahmad Safana and Ibrahim Lawal Dankaba for allegedly diverting public funds to the tune of over N11 billion to their personal use during his tenure as governor of Katsina State.
