EFCC vs Shema: Court to rule on proper prosecuting procedure tomorrow
A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina will on Tuesday rule on the application of whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case of EFCC against former governor of Katsina state, Ibrahim Shema. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had dragged Shema before the court on 26-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy […]
A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina will on Tuesday rule on the application of whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case of EFCC against former governor of Katsina state, Ibrahim Shema.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had dragged Shema before the court on 26-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and money laundering of about N5,776,552,396 of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
At the commencement of the sitting today, both counsels have argued for and against the procedure to be followed with EFCC’s counsel Lateef Fabgemi, SAN insisting that Shema’s plea be taking alongside the application of jurisdiction as raised by the defence counsel.
Barrister Fagbemi argued that since the introduction or coming into being of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the commendable pronouncement of the Supreme Court which states that whatever objection anyone has should be rolled up with the main defence in the spirit of speedy administration of justice.
He said, it doesn’t deny the accused of his right at all, noting that ‘ it has nothing to do with fair hearing, it is to address complain of general public that criminal cases drag on for too long’
However, Shema’s counsel Emmanuel Ukala argued otherwise that it wasn’t appropriate to take plea when the issue of jurisdiction is on ground.
He said, docking Shema to get his plea was wrong and not a proper prosecution procedure.
Earlier, the Presiding Judge, Justice Babagana Ashigar had overruled Shema’s counsel, Emmanuel Ukala SAN who objected the appearance of the prosecution team for failing to show a fiat to prosecute the case on behalf of the Attorney General.
Ashigar ruled that the case can go on until the Attorney General raised such objection to that.
He equally reserved tomorrow for ruling on the argument of plea and the application on jurisdiction.
Already, Shema alongside three others are facing another 24-count charge at the State High Court on alleged financial misdemeanour of about N11billion brought by the EFCC.