The arraignment of the Kano Central Senatorial candidate of the APC, All Progressive Congress, Abdulkarim Saleh Abdulsalam aka A.A Zaura, on multiple fraud charges before a Federal High Court, Kano has suffered another setback, owing to the absence of his counsel.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed a charge of criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of 1.3 million dollars against Abdulkarim Abdulsalam.
It is the fourth time the arraignment failed to proceed mostly because of the politician’s failure to appear in court.
At the last adjourned date, the matter could not go on due to the absence of both the Zaura and the trial judge.
But Zaura was in court yesterday, having been picked up at his residence by operatives of the Commission.
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However, when the matter was called, the prosecution counsel, A.T Habib informed the court that she was in receipt of a letter from the defence counsel, Ibrahim Garba-Waru, informing her that he would not be in court as he has a matter at the Supreme Court, for a pre-election matter.
Subsequently, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa, held that the position of law according to the provisions of section 36(2)(a)(b) of 1999 Constitution as amended says a defendant must be given adequate time and facility to defend himself.
He said the case is a criminal matter and has suffered several adjournment, noting that his interest on the matter is Justice been served.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till February 6, for arraignment.
