A
Federal High Court in Damaturu on Tuesday, adjourned the trial of former
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama and four others due to
absence of counsels.
Arraigned with the ministers are Mohammed Kadai, a former state Commissioner for
Integrated and Rural Development; Abba Gana Tata; Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn
Jaks.
The trial was adjourned to March 20, 2019 following the absence of counsels to
the fourth and fifth defendants.
Bulama and the four others are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a seven-count charge for the offence of criminal
conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N 229 million.
Counsel to the fourth and the fifth defendants, J.J Usman, sent in a letter to
the court asking for an adjournment because of the general elections.
However, counsel for the EFCC, AlQasim Ja’afar, in his submission, urged the
court to invoke Section 396(3) of the ACJA 2015, for a day-to-day trial.
Ja’afar said: “Justice in every criminal case must balance on the equilibrium
to serve the interest of the prosecution, defendants and the general public.
The enactment of the ACJA 2015 is to ensure speedy dispensation of cases.”
Ja’afar further noted that it was the seventh adjournment granted by the court
at the instance of the defence counsels.
While adjourning the case, Justice Hammadd Dashen, held that, “if counsels to
the defendants are not ready, at the next adjourned date, the court will not
hesitate to grant the application for day-to-day trial.”
