Desmond Mgboh, Kano

Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar  of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, has adjourned the trial of a former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and two others to October 18, 2018.

Mallam Shekarau, alongside a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bahir Wali, and the North West Deputy Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mansur Ahmed, were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million

When the trial came up for hearing, on Tuesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Barr. Johnson Ojogbemi, requested for an adjournment of the case while requesting that court to transfer the case to Abuja.

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He cited security issue as the reason behind the request, arguing that some of their witnesses are scared of coming to testify before the court on the grounds that their lives would not be safe thereafter.

However, his appeal was rejected by Counsel to Defendants, Barr. Sam Ologunorisa, who pointed out that the plea to transfer the case to Abuja was a violation of the conditions of the bail granted to the accused persons by the court.

He insisted that the case could be heard in Kano while adding that there was cause for any security concern in the state as argued by the lawyer of the Commission.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to the 18th October for her ruling on where the case would be heard, whether in Kano or in Abuja.