Court reserves ruling in Jonathan’s former doctor’s no-case submission

An FCT High Court in Jabi has reserved ruling in a no-case submission filed by Dr Fortune Fiberesima, a former medical aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Fiberesima on a sixcount charge bordering on abuse of office. He was accused of awarding contracts to companies where he had interests. The anti-graft agency called five witnesses to prove its case.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, Fiberesima’s counsel, G.I. Amibo (SAN) told the court that, “Throughout the proof of the case by the prosecution, there was no modicum of proof that the defendant is a public/civil servant to whom the provisions of the extant laws and rules apply.”

He said the entire case was based on “Speculations, assumptions and suppositions that ‘this man worked with Goodluck Jonathan, why is he walking free?” He therefore urged the court to uphold the no-case submission and discharge the defendant.

However, prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed said by the totality of evidence before the court, the EFCC believed that a prima facie case had been established against the defendant.

At this point, the trial judge, Justice Peter Affen asked the prosecution counsel to address the court on the claim of the defence counsel that no evidence was laid before the court to show that the defendant was a public servant, since he was arraigned under the ICPC Act.

Responding, Ahmed appealed to the court to consider the arguments the prosecution had raised in its written reply to the no-case submission.

The judge thereafter said a date for ruling would be communicated to the parties.