The trial of a former presidential aspirant, Emmanuel Osita Okereke and Ishmeal Chinyere slated to commence on Monday, before Justice Abubakar Talba of an FCT High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja could not proceed as planned due to the absence of the prosecution’s witness.
Okereke and Chinyere are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for offences bordering on impersonation, forgery and criminal conspiracy to the tune of N1,145,000 (one million, one hundred and forty five thousand naira).
Specifically, the accused persons allegedly forged a document of a Federal Government titled “Restricted, Federal Government of Nigeria, National Task Force” and falsely held public offices as Director-General and Director, FCT Command of National Task Force through which they fraudulently obtained money from sale of employment forms.
The duo who were first arraigned before Justice J.Y Tukur on November 21, 2013 had their matter transferred to Justice Talba following the elevation of the former judge. Hence, the case started de novo on October 3, 2014 with the accused taking fresh pleas.
At the resumed sitting, counsel to EFCC, Aso Larrys Peter prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him produce the witness whom he said is indisposed at the moment.
Counsel representing the accused persons, Kanayo Okafor, however expressed their readiness to go on with the matter.
Justice Talba, in granting the application, adjourned the case to May 4 and 5, 2015 for definite trial.
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