A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State on Thursday failed to continue with the trial of former state Governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero, and three others due to the absence of former PDP state Chairman, Abubakar Haruna Gaya.
The suspects were arraigned on eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N700 million.
Yero, it would be recalled was re-arraigned before Justice Z. B. Abubakar on November 27, 2018 along with Nuhu Somo Waya, a former Minister of State; Abubakar Haruna Gaya, a former PDP Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter, and Hamza Ishaq, a former Secretary to the state government.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade in a statement said one of the charges reads: “That you, Muktar Ramalan Yero, whilst being the Executive Governor of Kaduna State; Nuhu Somo Waya, whilst being a former Minister of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Ishaq Hamza, whilst being the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, and Abubakar Gaya Haruna, whilst being the Chairman PDP Kaduna State Chapter, sometime in 2015 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit crime to wit: indirectly taking possession of the sum of N700 million, which you ought to have known forms part of unlawful activity to wit; bribery and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)Act, 2011 ( as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act”.
The accused, it was learnt, pleaded not guilty to the charges and, the case was subsequently adjourned today for commencement of trial.
But when the court resumed hearing, counsel for the second defendant, S. Atung, holding brief for Dr. A. Adewale, counsel for the fourth defendant, reportedly sought leave of the court for an adjournment to enable his client attend to his ill-health.
Further, Atung said, “I personally visited him upon a phone call by his family member”.
Given an unopposed adjournment application, the case was eventually adjourned to March 20, for hearing.
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