Court Reserves Judgment to July 4 in Corruption Case against Bafarawa

Mohammed Aminu

Sokoto State High Court presided by Justice Bello Abbas has reserved judgment on the 33-count graft charges against the former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till July 4, 2018.

Other defendants include Bafarawa’s younger brother, Alhaji Nasiru Bafarawa, Beedash Nigeria Limited, Nasdalbap Nigeria Limited and Salihu Maibuhu-Gummi.

Bafarawa and four others are facing charges bordering on unlawful sale of shares belonging to Sokoto State Government, misappropriation of public funds and criminal breach of trust as well as receiving stolen properties, allegedly committed between 2003 and 2007 when he was the governor of the state.

Justice Abbas adjourned the case till July 4 for judgment after counsel to the two parties adopted their written addresses and closed their arguments.

Abbas however, thanked the counsel for their patience, assuring them that justice would be done to their case.

Earlier, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the EFCC counsel. Mr. Jacob Ochidi, said efforts had been made to sufficiently prove the charges beside the 11-count charge mentioned.

He prayed the court to convict the accused persons based on the testimonies and exhibits tendered before the court.

In his submission, the defence counsel, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), argued that the complainant abandoned 11-count charge and that the ingredients needed to prove the remaining 22 charges were not sufficient enough to warrant conviction of the accused persons as the law requires proving criminal offence beyond reasonable doubt.

He, however, urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused persons as the complainant had failed to prove the case against the defendants.

Fagbemi added that Bafarawa ought to be referred as a ``Honest complainant turned accused person,’’ because be was the first to report fraud case to the EFCC in 2006.