EFCC vs Shema : Court adjourns case to January 23 and 24 2019

A Katsina High court has fixed 23rd and 24th of January, 2019 for continuation of a ‘Trial within Trial’ in the case of Economic and Financial crime Commission EFCC against former Governor of the state Ibrahim Shema. Daily Trust reports that the ‘Trial within Trial’ came about when the 4th defendant in the case, Ibrahim […]

A Katsina High court has fixed 23rd and 24th of January, 2019 for continuation of a ‘Trial within Trial’ in the case of Economic and Financial crime Commission EFCC against former Governor of the state Ibrahim Shema.

Daily Trust reports that the ‘Trial within Trial’ came about when the 4th defendant in the case, Ibrahim Dankaba told the court that his statement was obtained under duress during investigation at the EFCC.

At the resumed sitting  Wednesday , the prosecuting counsel led by Ofem Uket presented two witnesses before the courts to prove their stands that the statements of the 4th defendants was voluntarily obtained.

The witnesses are Abubakar Buba and Abu Fari Mohammad both of whom investigative officers of the EFCC told the court that ” at no time that the 4th defendant was intimidated, forced or coerced to obtain his statement. He willingly rendered them”

However during cross examination, led by EY Kurah SAN, told the court that his client was intimidated by inviting state government officials during his interrogation and cajoled to implicate Shema to be set free in the case.

The presiding judge Justuce Maikaita Bako then fixed 23 and 24 of January 2019 for the defendants to open their defence in the trial before the trial.

It would be recalled that Shema alongside three others namely former Commissioner for Local government Sani Makana, ex permanent Secretary, Lawal Rufai and Ex- ALGON chairman Ibrahim Dankaba were dragged before the court over alleged diversion of N11b of Local government fund