Connect with us

CRIME

Alleged N3bn loan diversion: Judge absence stalls trial ‘whistleblower’

Published

on

The absence of trial judge on Friday stalled the trial of Dr John Idumange, who raised an alarm over alleged diversion of N3 billion Agriculture loan by government officials.

The court registrar, informed parties that Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah, with Bayelsa Chief Judge Justice Kate Abiri.

The court clerks subsequently fixed Nov. 22 for continuation of trial.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bayelsa, Biriyai Sambo, SAN, filed a suit against Idumange for misdemeanour and seditious publications against government officials.

Our correspondent reports that a Magistrates’ Court had on March 11 in Yenagoa, ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days, pending police investigation.

Idumange, who alleged that officials of Bayelsa government had diverted a N3 billion Agric loan and subsequently submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was arrested on March 10.

Some officials of the state government had reported to the police that Idumange had made seditious publications that maligned their persons in his claims.

However, the State High Court, Sagbama Division, granted bail to Idumange, who was also an aide on Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson.

It was reported that the case, earlier assigned to Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, was reassigned to Justice Uzakah.

Nathan Nwakamma

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel