The Federal High Court, in Abuja has served a note of warning to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against several requests for adjournment in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Adoke is being tried alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a businessman.
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning when EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga asked the court for an adjournment following the absence of the fifth prosecution witness in court.
Sanga informed the court that the fifth prosecution witness had to be subpoenaed because he had became hesitant and was refusing to attend court to testify in the matter.
The EFCC had on August 11, asked for an adjournment after failing to serve witness statements on the defendants.
An adjournment was also granted on September 7 at the instance of the EFCC after counsel to Abubakar informed the court that the statement of the fourth prosecution witness was not added to the proof of evidence served on them.
According to section 396(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), “where day to day trial is impracticable after arraignment, no party shall be entitled to more than five adjournments from arraignment to final judgment…”
Earlier, Farouk Suleiman, a bureau de change (BDC) operator, told the court that Abubakar had given him cheques totalling two billion naira and asked him to change it to the dollar equivalent sometime in September 2013.
Suleiman who is the fourth prosecution witness said he cleared the cheques through Farsman Holdings Limited, his company account, with Heritage Bank.
However, under cross-examination by Abubakar’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, Suleiman said neither the cheques nor the receipt of transactions had the name of Abubakar.
He said the cheques were drawn in the name of Equal Access Limited.
