Asset Declaration: Court Adjourns Trial of Perm Sec. On Health Ground
The ongoing trial of a serving Permanent Secretary with the Federal Ministry of Labour, Dr. Illoh Onubuogo Clement before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a three-count-charge of non assets declaration was on Monday stalled due to the illness of the accused person.
The trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi was forced to adjourned the case after counsel to Illoh, Obinna Uwanna, informed him about the declining health status of his client, and non-comply with the section 379 (1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by the prosecution.
Uwanna also told the court that the prosecution failed in complying with the section of ACJA, by not furnishing his client the summary of its witnesses’ statement.
The lawyer further accused the anti-graft agency of frustrating his client efforts to perfect the terms of his bail earlier granted him by the court on April 4, 2017, by rejecting the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) presented on the ground that it cannot be find in the record of Land Registry, Alausa.
He further told the court that he was not given adequate time by the commission to discuss with his client, as they were only allowed one hour to discuss.
Consequently he urged the court not to allow the trial to go on, but adjourn it till another date.
Responding, lawyer to the EFCC, Mohammed Idris, urged the court to discountenance the submissions of the lawyer to the former Permanent Secretary.
Idris said the anti-graft agency did not float the Provision of Section 379 (1) of ACJA, as all the documents needed by the defendant are in the Proof-of-Evidence.
He also argued that out of the witnesses he intends to call, five are investigators with his Commission, while one is a staff of First Bank Plc.
The EFCC prosecutor said that the defendant and his defence team are avail with adequate time to meet and discuss, as they were allowed minimum of three hours to meet everyday (11am to 2 p.m.)
He therefore urged the court to discountenance the defence submission.
In a short ruling, Justice Kuewumi, said he is granting the application for adjournment on health ground.
He however, ordered the defendant’s lawyer to cooperate with the prosecution in facilitating the perfection of the defendant’s bail.
The matter has been adjourned till June 23, 2017, for the commencement of defendant’s trial.
The EFCC in a charge number FHC/L/1054c/17, alleged that the 59 years old Permanent Secretary, had on April 16, 2016, failed to disclose the sum of N97, 300, 613.44 million, in his account number 3033750243 domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
He was also alleged to have warehoused the sum of $139, 575. 50 USD, and £10, 121.52, British Pound Sterling (BPS), in his accounts number 3033750243 and 2017262246 also domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
The offences according to the EFCC said are contrary to and punishable under sections 23 (3)(c) of the Financial Crimes Commission (Establish) Act 2004.
