Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the
Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, June 30, 2016, dismissed a no-case
submission filed by a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, through his
counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC.
Ohakim is facing trial for allegedly
making a cash payment to the tune of $2, 290,000.00 (about N270,000,000) for
the purchase of a property situated at Plot 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro
District, otherwise known as Number 60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro in
Abuja.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the January 26, 2013 in Abuja
within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while under arrest for an
offence under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act,
2004 knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by not declaring
your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098 Cadastral
Zone A04, Asokoro District- it is also known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street,
Asokoro, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 and
punishable under the same section.”
The former governor had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it
was read to him.
Consequently, the
prosecution presented a number of witnesses and tendered several documents,
which were admitted in evidence, to prove its case against the defendant,
before it closed its case.
However, at the last
hearing on June 6, 2016, the defence filed a no-case submission against the
prosecution.
In his ruling today,
Justice Ademola stated that the prosecution had been able to establish its case
against the defendant.
The case has been
adjourned to October 10 and 13, 2016 for the commencement of the defence.
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