Court orders NBC DG to appear in court over alleged N2.5b fraud suit
- Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa demands the appearance of NBC director general in court to answer charges levelled against him by the ICPC
- Kawu’s counsel, Abdullahi Mustapha, says the NBC boss is not present in court to take plea on health grounds
- Mustapha asks the court for an adjournment to allow his client to get well enough to attend the next trial
Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa has ordered the director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, to appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to answer charges levelled against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
The court gave the order on Tuesday, March 12, after Kawu’s counsel, Abdullahi Mustapha, said the NBC boss was not present to take plea on health grounds, Leadership reports.
The NBC boss is being tried alongside the chairman and chief operating officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited, Sir Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade.
“My lord, let me apologise for the absence of the 1st defendant in court. He is on admission. “He had a major surgery 10 years ago, and is ill," Kawu’s counsel, Mustapha said.
“I have a medical report from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital to confirm that he is currently ill, and I shall be filing it before the court registry.
“On account of health, I seek for an adjournment pending when he (Modibbo) will be well enough to attend trial.
Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa granted the adjournment after the prosecuting counsel, Henry Emore, did not oppose the oral application for an adjournment.
The judge however said she would not bend backwards again to grant an adjournment exceeding two weeks based on the provision of section 396 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant-General of Imo state, Uzoho Casmir, for allegedly laundering the sum of N1billion.
The Nation reports that a top source of the EFCC said the agency is also probing whether or not the cash was diverted on the order of the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.
The cash was allegedly withdrawn in three tranches for vote buying between and Casmir was picked up by the EFCC