The trial of John Yakubu Yusufu, a former
director of the Police Pension office who is being prosecuted before Justice
Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC was today stalled, following an application by the defendant
seeking to quash the charges against him on the grounds that he had been tried
and convicted on similar charges.
Yusufu is facing a 4-count charge bordering
on failure to make full disclosure of assets and liability in his Assets
Declaration form and declare his interest in a company known as SY-A Global
Services Limited.
At the resumed hearing on April 22, 2013 the
defence counsel, F. C Ibeh informed the court he had filed a fresh application
on Friday April 19, 2013 to quash the charge his client.
But prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN,
opposed the application on the grounds that it was not ripe for hearing. He
urged the court to allow the first prosecution witness, Mustapha Sanni, an
operative of the EFCC to continue his testimony as the application by the
defendant is intended to stall the proceedings.
However, the defence counsel argued that the
application is fundamental to determining the direction of the case. “My Lord,
the proper disposal of this application will help steer the ship of this matter
either to proceed or stop, I therefore urge the court to pause and determine
this application which is supported by an affidavit, exhibits and a written
address”.
Justice Bello consequently adjourned
the case to May 16, 2013 for filing and adoption of all written addresses on
the motion to quash the charge.
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