Murder: SAN’s fiat ends controversy over prosecution of politician

The controversy trailing the prosecution of a Delta State-born politician ended when Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa tendered the fiat authorizing him to conduct the criminal trial. Okutepa was authorized by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to prosecute Charles Umukoro, who is facing charges over the death of his wife, Louisa […]

The controversy trailing the prosecution of a Delta State-born politician ended when Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa tendered the fiat authorizing him to conduct the criminal trial.

Okutepa was authorized by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to prosecute Charles Umukoro, who is facing charges over the death of his wife, Louisa Eni-Umukoro, a former director with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

But the move by defence counsel, Peter Aihiokhai, who on November 6 introduced A.B. Mamman as the counsel from the AGF’s office to take over the case of the prosecutor, stirred controversy.

When the matter resumed on December 5, Okutepa produced a fiat issued by the office of the IGP to end the controversy.

Consequently, the SAN proceeded to tender the audio recording and transcripts of the conversation between the deceased and her husband through the first prosecution witness and brother to the deceased, Engr Nosa Ukponmwan.

After the witness was cross examined by defence counsel, Peter Aihiokhai, Justice MaryAnn Anennih adjourned the case to January 3, 2018.