Court Further Adjourns Case Against Suspect Over Scam On Emir To Sept. 26

Justice Abubakar Umar has further adjourned to Sept.?26 the adoption of final written addresses in a suit filed by the EFCC against one Adeolu Olugbenga.

The EFCC arraigned Olugbenga in 2004 for allegedly conspiring and obtaining the sum of N3 million from the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, through his Personal Assistant, Yusuf Gambari.

The anti-graft agency said the accused forged a letter on the official letter-head of the office of the then National Security Adviser, Retired Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

The accused was said to have told the emir that some containers at the Tin-can Island Port in Lagos had been allocated to him by the Federal Government.

He was also accused of forging a Revenue Collector's Receipt No. Z001648330, dated April 22, 2004, for N1.5 million in favour of the Emir “with intent to cause him to part with the money’’.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Justice Umar adjourned the case after the EFCC Counsel, Mr Ofem Uket, had told the court that the matter was for adoption of final written addresses by both counsel.

Uket, however, told the court that he received a call from the counsel to the accused, Mr Ade Ofeoshe, in court, saying that he was ill and could not appear.

He also told the court that Ofeoshe had informed him that the accused (Olugbenga) also had an accident and was injured on the leg.

Uket, therefore, informed the court that Ofeoshe had asked for an adjournment for the adoption of the final written address on the matter.

Umar then adjourned the matter to Sept. 26.

He said that the further adjournment was due to the fact that judges of the high court would proceed on vacation to end the 2012 legal year.

Umar ordered that hearing notices be issued on the prosecution and defence counsel before Sept. 26, reminding them to appear “unfailingly.’’ (NAN)