NICHOLAS Ugbane, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, his former House of Representative, Ndudi Elumelu and Jibo Mohammed who were prosecuted by EFCC in a case of breach of due process, criminal conspiracy, diversion and misappropriation of public funds of N5.2 billion will be re-arraigned on Friday.
This much was disclosed in a statement signed by EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday, who said that the trio would be re-arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court.
“They are expected to take fresh plea before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the FCT High Court, Abuja on Feb. 1, 2013.
“The re- arraignment is sequel to the re-assignment of the case, following the withdrawal of former trial judge, Justice Adebunkola Banjoko,” the statement explained.
“Ugbane and his co-accused were initially arraigned on Oct. 30, 2009 on a 130-count charge together with six senior officials of the Rural Electrification Agency.
“The charges were subsequently separated, with the lawmakers jointly facing a 62-count charge and the other six facing a 68-count charge.
“At today’s session, the accused persons could not be re-arraigned owing to the absence of the third accused, Jibo Mohammed who was neither represented nor did he give reason for his absence.
This development prompted the prosecution counsel, Onjefu Obe, to pray the court for a bench warrant to effect his arrest,” it added.
Obe had argued that “when an accused person in a criminal case as in the one at hand fails to appear and nothing to show why he was not in court, irrespective of who the person is, the prosecutor has the right to ask the court to issue a bench warrant against such an accused for him to come and explain why he was not present at the court”.
The defence counsel, Mr Ikwueto (SAN) whose appearance was for the second accused, came to the rescue of Jibo.
He said the third accused person was not aware of today’s adjournment.
“Since the date was not communicated to him, it would be wrong for the court to issue a bench warrant against him.
“After ascertaining that the third accused may not have been informed about the new date, the judge asked the EFCC counsel whether he was going ahead with his earlier application.
“EFCC is not in court solely to prosecute but to promote justice,” the counsel replied.
He, thereafter, withdrew the application to issue bench warrant on the third accused person,” the stated recalled.