Former Gombe State governor Danjuma Goje has alleged that there is a threat to his life in Gombe and that he is therefore no longer safe to continue standing trial in the state for alleged N25billion money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC is prosecuting the ex-governor and four other accused persons before a Federal High Court (FHC) in Gombe on an 18-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.
The other accused persons standing trial with the ex-governor are Aliyu El –Nafaty (former chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board), Sambo Tumu, S.M. Dokoro, and S. M. Dokoro Gombe (a firm).
Goje had ruled the state between 2003 and 2011 and is now a senator representing Gombe Central.
The former governor is asking the chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to transfer his case to Abuja, Lagos or other divisions of the FHC outside the north-east zone because of security concerns.
Speaking through one of his lead lawyers, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), in a letter exclusively obtained by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Goje alleged that the atmosphere in his state was not conducive to the hearing and determination of the criminal charge.
Asking the CJ to take judicial notice of the development, the lawyer said, “There is palpable tension and hostility which usually pervade the air each time this charge comes up for hearing between the supporters of the first accused (Goje) and the present administration in Gombe State (led by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo).
“This is also worsened by the activities of the Boko Haram. The state had witnessed its own share of bombing and other acts of terrorism from the dreaded group. The group’s activities had Gombe State listed as part of the northern states considered unsafe because of the great security challenge it is presently facing.”
The ex-governor had also filed a fresh application dated November 5, 2012, seeking the transfer of the case to Abuja or to any other judicial division outside the northeast zone, citing security reasons for the request.
But the EFCC has faulted the claims of Goje, saying that his allegations were meant to delay his trial and frustrate prosecution of the case against him to a logical conclusion.
In the EFCC’s counter affidavit dated November 7, 2012 and exclusively made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the commission stated that there has been no threat to law and order in Gombe since the trial started about a year ago, as the federal and Gombe State governments have always ensured that the parties and the court are protected and shielded from any danger or threat.
The EFCC, which spoke through its lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, urged the court to throw out the application on the grounds that Goje did not show or exhibit any security report to convince the court about the grave security danger in Gombe.
Shittu said, “The alleged offences took place in Gombe State and the trial process ought to be concluded in Gombe. That the Abuja venue being suggested by the defence has recorded more terror attacks than Gombe in recent times
“The prosecution has called the first witness and the matter is currently at the trial-within-trial stage with the matter adjourned for continuation trial. It is not for the accused (Goje) to choose for the court the venue of their trial as that would be setting a dangerous precedent.
“The defence team has brought this present application for a change in the venue of this trial based on a phantom security threat formulated by the accused (Goje).”
At the last adjourned date on November 8, Goje was not in court while one of his lead lawyers, Chris Uche (SAN), produced a medical report issued by the National Assembly Clinic, Abuja, and signed by one Dr. Yero S. I. as evidence that his client was not fit to be present in court.
The report had claimed that Goje was under observation for “acute exacerbation of hypertension due to an underlying stress”.
But EFCC lawyer Shittu wondered how the ex-governor who travelled from Saudi Arabia after the Hajj and attended a plenary session at the Senate would find it difficult to travel to Gombe for a court appearance. He urged the court to be mindful of attempts to delay and scuttle the trial.
Justice Babatunde Quadri, however, upheld the medical report, since, according to him, there was no contrary report from the prosecution, and adjourned the case till January 22, 2013.
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