The trial of Phina Chidi, a former assistant director, Pension Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Franklin Nwankwo and Pam Investment properties before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court could not proceed on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 due to the absence of counsel to the first accused person, Chris Uche, SAN.
At the resumed hearing of the case
today, counsel to the third accused, Godwin Uche informed the court that Uche
could not make it to court because he was indisposed. He said that, the learned
silk had earlier called to inform him that, he was not feeling too good. In the
circumstance, he prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him recover
and be present in court.
Commenting, counsel to the second
accused, M.C.M Ozioko aligned himself with the prayer of third defence counsel
saying he was not averse to the application for adjournment.
Responding, counsel to EFCC, Godwin
Obla, SAN, stated that, he had four witnesses present in court. He said that,
the adjournment sought by the defence would have been strongly opposed if not
for reasons of ill health.
Justice Kolawole, after
listening to the submissions of the counsel adjourned the case to April 21 and
22, 2015 for continuation of trial while ordering the accused persons to
continue with the bail already granted them by the court.
The accused are being prosecuted by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 15 count charge of
obtaining by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of
N1,638,960,125.75 (one billion, six hundred and thirty eighty million, nine
hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and twenty five naira, seventy five
kobo and $2,000,000.00 (two million US dollars).
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