Justice A. S. Umar of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting
in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, June 19, 2017 admitted in evidence two
documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, against a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin,
who is standing trial for alleged corruption.
At the last sitting (June 14), there were arguments and counter arguments
between Jibrin’s counsel, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN and counsel to the EFCC,
Faruk Abdallah, on whether the documents tendered by the latter against
the defendant is admissible or not.
The documents are: the
Appropriation Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2013 & 2014 on
one hand and the the Appropriation Act of the National Assembly for 2013
and 2014 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the other hand.
Miakyau had argued that the documents sought to be tendered by the
prosecution did not satisfy the provisions of Section 106 of the
Evidence Act, while Abdallah cited Section 122 (1) (2) of the Evidence
Act to the effect that the documents tendered are admissible.
In his
ruling today, Justice Umar admitted the two documents - a three-volume
of Appropriation Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 2013 as
exhibit 16 a, b and c, and a three-volume of Appropriation Act of the
National Assembly 2014 as exhibit 17 a, b and c.
“I have read
carefully and examined the relevant Act, the prosecution has conformed
to Section 106 of the Evidence Act”, the judge held.
Justice Umar, thereafter, adjourned to July 13 - 14, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Jibrin is facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, Rear
Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (all retired) and
Habor Bay International Limited
on a 4-count charge of criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the
EFCC.
The naval chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house
worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without
budgetary provision.
It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jibrin) became the buyer.
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