Alleged N2bn Fraud: Court Sets Oct 14 As Pre-Trial Date For Ex-Gov Babangida Aliyu

A Niger State High Court presided over by Justice Mikail Abdullahi, on Monday, fixed October 14th as pre-trial date in the re-listed case of money laundering involving a former Governor of the state, Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Aliyu, alongside his then Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko, and the Chairman, Niger State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Tanko Beji, on an amended seven-count bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N2billion.

Aliyu and the other defendants were re-arraigned on September 14th, same day the case was re-listed for hearing. Afterwards, the matter was adjourned till September 21st for commencement of trial.

EFCC sought the re-listing of the case after it was struck out by the court in favour of the defendants on February 10, 2020.

At Monday’s hearing, prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullahi, informed the court that the prosecution was ready for trial as earlier approved by the court on the arraignment date of on September 14.

Counsel to the third defendant, Mamman Mike Osman, however, opposed Abdullahi on the ground that Section 14 of the EFCC Establishment Act, provides for a pre-trial protocol as a pre-condition for the hearing of the commission’s cases, adding that the failure to submit pre-trial evidence made the trial unripe for hearing.

The defence lawyer further argued that in pre-hearing, the defence would need to identify the prosecution witnesses and reach out to its own witnesses and identify the nature of their testimonies and prepare questions for cross-examination.

“It is my final submission that this matter is not ripe for hearing,” Osman said.

Abdullahi, however, expressed dismay that the defence counsel challenged the trial commencement, reminding the court that the case was adjourned for trial, today, September 21, 2020 following the arraignment of the defendants on September 14, 2020.

He further noted that the court with the consent of all the counsels on that date, urged the prosecution to open its case.

Abdullahi, therefore, urged the court to go ahead with the hearing of the case as agreed by all the counsels on September 14, 2020.

“I am mindful of the fact that the defendants are entitled to know the witnesses and to have an idea of the document tendered. The prosecution has furnished the defendants copies of materials in volumes of document to rely on, also the list of witnesses, summary of their statements and extra judicial statements,” Abdullahi stated.

He added that: “The justice of the case demands that we proceed with the trial, the spirit of trial protocol has been approved by the court, and the court set the case down for trial.”

Justice Abdullahi, however, adjourned the matter till October 14, 2020, for pre-trial.