NBC trial: Judge threatens to close ICPC’s case

Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to close the case of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) against the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu and three others for lack of diligent prosecution. DG of NBC, Kawu, chairman of Pinnacle Communications […]

Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to close the case of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) against the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu and three others for lack of diligent prosecution.

DG of NBC, Kawu, chairman of Pinnacle Communications Ltd, Lucky Omoluwa, and Dipo Onifade are facing a 12-count charge preferred against them by the ICPC at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the switch-over project.

The threat followed an oral application by Alex Izinyon (SAN), counsel to Omoluwa and Onifade expressing dissatisfaction over the way and manner the prosecution counsel was conducting the trial in piecemeal.

“We have tolerated the prosecution, if the prosecution is not prepared to proceed with this trial, my Lord, please close their case. They should put their house in order and stop wasting the time of the court,” he said.

The ICPC lawyer, Emoreh had told the court that one of his witnesses travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, while the other witness was bereaved.

Consequently, the court ordered Emoreh to bring all his witnesses to court on the next adjourned date of June 26.

Earlier, Remigius Ugwu, a complaint officer with Zenith Bank Plc, testified that Pinnacle Communication Ltd has an account with them.