Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo of the High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja on Thursday, January 28,
2016 adjourned for ruling on a case involving George Uboh, who
is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a
3-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust involving the sale of
Police Equipment Fund (PEF) vehicles, as counsel to both parties adopted their
final written addresses.
Adopting his final written address today,
counsel to EFCC, Mohammed Bello submitted that, the prosecution had proved the
essential elements of the offence alleged against the accused person beyond
reasonable doubt.
According to Bello, there was no evidence
showing that the Hillux Pick-up vehicles were given to Uboh as compensation
adding that, even if PEF was indebted to the accused person, there was no
evidence that he asked for compensation.
He urged the court to convict the accused and
sentence him accordingly so as to serve as deterrent for people who think they
could hold Nigeria to ransom.
On the other hand,
Uboh’s counsel, Onyeka Ikenta, told the court that, the defence is relying on
its final written address dated December 11, 2015 which was filed same day, to
be adopted as its oral submission and reply on point of law to the
prosecution's written address dated January 28, 2016.
He urged the court to
discountenance the argument of the prosecution, which he said failed to prove
its case beyond reasonable doubt, and asked that the accused be discharged and
acquitted accordingly.
After listening to the
submission of both counsel, Justice Aladetoyinbo adjourned for ruling adding
that, the date for judgment would be communicated to both parties.
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