Hearing
on the N359million fraud trial of a former provost of the Federal School of
Medical Laboratory Technology, FSMLT, Dr. Nkereuwem Sunday Etukudo, suffered
another setback on July 17, 2017 as the absence of the trial judge, Justice Y.
G. Dakwak of the Plateau State High Court, Jos, who was said to be away for
another official engagement, forced an adjournment.
On the
last adjourned date, Friday June 2, 2017, the Registrar who cited
"scheduling conflicts" as reason for the further adjournment, today
informed parties that, "The judge had travelled for a conference in the
company of the Chief Judge."
Consequently,
the matter was further adjourned.
Etukudo
is facing a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of funds to
the tune of N359million preferred against him by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He is
alleged to have committed the crimes alongside Yusuf Samuel, Accountant, FSMLT;
Ernest Demtoe, Secretary of Tenders Board, FSMLT; Goodluck Echewa, and Esio
Udoh, both contractors of FSMLT.
The EFCC
had after Etukudo’s arraignment in May, 2016, presented a witness, PW1, Ethel
Ekan, to commence trial.
During
the examination, Ekan, a lecturer and hostel supervisor, narrated how the
defendants diverted FSMLT funds and severally awarded contracts to companies in
which they had interests.
According
to her, the contracts were abandoned and contract sums diverted to personal
use.
The
witness also explained how she and six others had been nominated for
international study tours on two occasions, but later discovered that the funds
approved and released for the programme had been ‘cornered’ by the defendants
for personal interests.
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