Court
adjourns to decide whether to join Diezani in suit against Belgore
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has filed an application before a
Federal
High Court, Abuja, seeking to set aside the subpoena issued by the
court for his appearance in court to give evidence in the trial of the former
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh.
In the application, filed on his behalf by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN)
yesterday, the former president is asking the court to order Metuh, in the
alternative, to deposit with the court N1 billion for him to cover his
travelling expenses.
He said the demand for the money is in line with the provisions of
Section 241 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2005.
According to him, the money would cover his travelling expenses from
Otuoke in Bayelsa State to Abuja as well as his security personnel, security
and logistics around the court during his appearance in the court as former
president of the country.
The application was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by
litigation secretary in the chambers of Mike Ozekhome and Usman Salihu.
In another development, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court,
Lagos, has fixed tomorrow for ruling on the application filed by former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to be joined as a
defendant in the alleged N500 million fraud charge involving a Senior Advocate
of Nigeria, Dele Belgore.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Belgore
together with a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman,
on a five-count charge bordering on N500 million fraud.
The EFCC had also named the former petroleum minister as an accomplice in
the criminal trial. She was, however, described as being “at large”.
At the resumed trial yesterday, counsel to Alison-Madueke (applicant),
Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), succinctly asked the court to grant his application
for joinder of the applicant, in the sole interest of justice.
But counsel to the first accused, Mr. E. O. Shofunde (SAN), who objected
the motion for joinder, said that the applicant was not a necessary party to
the suit since in the end, the court would only decide the guilt or innocence
of the first and second accused.
In his response, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, aligned with the
first defence counsel, and vehemently opposed the application for joinder.
The judge, after listening to parties in the suit, adjourned to tomorrow, November 1, 2017, for ruling.
The judge, after listening to parties in the suit, adjourned to tomorrow, November 1, 2017, for ruling.
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