Court adjourns ex-Gov's N1.64bn fraud trial

An Abuja High Court on Tuesday adjourned the trial of former governor of Taraba, Rev.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the matter to enable the defence react to the further additional proof of evidence filed by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) Counsel to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Banjoko told both counsel that she was not going to give room for any further adjournments, adding that the trial shall hence forth continue on a daily basis.

Counsel to the Defence Hassan Fajimite told the court that the prosecution served them with the document on Monday, Sept. 26, and that he needed time to study it and respond accordingly..

“It is because they defaulted in serving us in time, we are cannot take this case today. We are entitled to study the document and try to analyse it with our witness,” Fajimite said.

Jacobs who could not field the 11th witness, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the witness he came to court with was a substitute witness, adding that the main witness had retired and could not be traced.

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“You know this case is 10 years old and Taraba government said they could not trace him, so we had to come to court today with a substitute witness,’’ Jacobs said

Fajimite, had told NAN that the prosecution `defaulted’ when they served them with the Further Additional Prove of Evidence just on Monday.

Nyame is facing trial on a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of N1.64 billion state fund during his tenure as governor.