Our correspondent reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moves to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja since the court is currently on Easter vacation.

The vacation, which commences on Tuesday, April 7, will end on April 13 and regular court sittings will resume on Tuesday, April 14, across all divisions of the court.

Another 20 suspected terrorists facing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday
NAN reports that the 13 courts at the Abuja FHC is currently busy with terrorist cases.

Some of the trial judges are Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Musa Liman, Akpan Ekerete, among others.

While Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, led the team of the Federal Government’s lawyers before Justice Nyako, Aliyu Abubakar, the Director General, Legal Aide Council, led the team of lawyers for the 20 suspected terrorists before Nyako.

Some of the suspected terrorists in Nyako’s cause list include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle,, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu, Abdullahi Ali, among others.

Our correspondent reports that there were heavy security beef-up in and around the Abuja Federal High Court as all roads leading to the court were blocked by armed security personnel while police helicopter hovered around the Central Business District.

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Tijani said this in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on Friday in Lagos.

He assured residents of adequate security before, during, and after the festivities.

The CP said the command had put in place a comprehensive and proactive security architecture to ensure a peaceful, safe, and hitch-free celebration across the state.

He said officers and resources had been deployed to key locations, including worship centres, recreational facilities, major highways, transportation hubs, and other critical public infrastructure to guarantee maximum security coverage.

“Special attention has been given to riverine communities, with the Marine Police positioned for enhanced surveillance and patrol to prevent criminal activities and ensure safety along the waterways.

“The police is working closely with relevant agencies to implement effective traffic management measures aimed at ensuring the free flow of traffic throughout the festive period,” he said.

He wished Christians a happy Easter, urging them to reflect on the values of love, sacrifice, and peaceful coexistence that come with the season.

The CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, stressing the importance of community partnership in effective policing.

He also called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious persons or activities.

He advised residents to make use of the command’s emergency lines—0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, 0803 934 4870, and 0916 863 0929—for distress calls and credible information sharing.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with disobedience to the direction of law and illegal acts causing injury to the public.

Eneanya was cross examined by the counsel for Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo SAN.

When asked to confirm that Exhibit N1, was the extra-judicial statement of Ahmed Halilu, managing director, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

The witness answered in the affirmative and added that he (Halilu) was invited to shed light on the subject matter of the charge.

He said that Halilu stated that NSPMC commenced and eventually produced the redesigned Naira notes locally.

The witness stated that in the cause of investigation, he did not come across any contradicting evidence in what was contained in Exhibit N1.

He said CBN paid NSPMC for the production.

When asked if Emefiele disobeyed presidential directive?

The witness said ” the investigation showed that defendant disobeyed the provisions of the CBN Act , 2007, Section 19, which stated that CBN board must recommend to the president before currency must be redesigned. “

He was asked to confirm to the court if that was the only ‘act’ of disobedience by the defendant.

The witness said the defendant memo to the president had the three samples of the new notes attached.

” The defendant in his 11 paged memo to the president attached three samples or sketches of the notes to be changed and the president approved the design and said, it should be produced locally “the witness said.

He however added that the investigation showed that what was produced later was different from the president’s approval.

Ojo asked the witness to confirm the company that designed the old notes which later was redesigned.

The witness told the court that it was DeLaRue of United Kingdom.

He stated further that Halilu said NSPMC was not the company that designed the currency even before the redesigned notes.

When asked if he obtained statements from the committee of governors or board of directors of CBN, he answered in the affirmative.

Asked if EFCC forwarded to him any petition from the members of the public, the witness answered:

” I do not know if the commission received any , I only investigated what was assigned to me. No my Lord no petition was forwarded to me

Asked to confirm to the court if the Naira notes were produced by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC)

Eneanya confirmed that De La Rue was the company that originally designed the Naira notes that became subject of redesign.

When being re-examined by A.O Mohammed, the prosecution counsel, the witness said:

” The design for the new notes were already attached to the memorandum to the presidency and he ordered that it should be produced locally “

The witness was then discharged.

Justice Maryann Anenih then adjourned the matter until May 11 for further hearing.

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Mr Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), who led the defence team, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen shortly after the court proceedings

Our correspondent reports that newsmen were not allowed into the courtroom to cover the day’s proceedings.

Iyamu said the bail application had been argued by both parties and the court subsequently adjourned for ruling.

“The bail application was argued and responded to, and the ruling on that bail has been fixed for the 14th of April,” he said.

The senior advocate expressed optimism that the court would deliver a fair decision.

“Any lawyer will be hopeful. We are hopeful. We have put our arguments before the court, and this is a court of justice. We look forward to the decision of the court,” he added.

On a separate matter scheduled for April 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Iyamu said the defence team is prepared.

“That’s a separate one. As lawyers, we are ready. We have filed the necessary papers and we will be there,” he said, noting that the case involved the Department of State Services (DSS).

Our correspondent reports that the court on Tuesday had adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by El-Rufai, until Wednesday.

The adjournment followed proceedings that took place under tight security, reflecting heightened public interest in the high-profile corruption trial.

El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering.

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Chile Okoroma, SAN, counsel for the EFCC, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the commission was still awaiting the response of the Chief Judge (CJ) , Justice John Tsoho, to its request.

Okoroma, who stated this shortly after the case was called for the re-arraignment of the defendants, said the application was in line with the Supreme Court order.

He said on the last adjourned date, the court was informed about a letter written to the CJ, seeking a fiat for Justice Ojukwu, who is in Calabar division of the court, to conclude the matter as directed by the apex court.

According to him, we wrote a letter to the chief judge why the order of the Supreme Court must be obeyed.

He said the prosecution, having gone far in the case by calling at least 17 witnesses, sought the application for the former trial judge to handle the case.

He then applied for an adjournment to await the official communication of the CJ.

Joe Agi, SAN, who appeared for the defendants, did not oppose Okoroma’s application.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until April 30 for re-arraignment or further proceedings.

“In the circumstances of this case and in the intetest of justice, the case is adjourned for re-arraignment and/or further proceedings,” the judge said.

Their re-arraignment, on March 13, was stalled due to the absence of the ex-govenor and his co-defendants in court.

Our correspondent recalls that the Supreme Court had, on Jan. 16, ordered a retrial of the defendants.

A five-member panel of the apex court issued the directive in two unanimous judgments delivered in the two appeals filed in the name of the Federal Government by the EFCC.

Both appeals were against the July 25, 2023 judgments by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld the no-case submission made by Lamido and others and struck out the 37-count charge on which they were being prosecuted, on the grounds that the Federal High Court, Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

In the lead judgments of the Supreme Court, Justice Abubakar Umar set aside the July 25, 2023 judgments of the Court of Appeal and affirmed the earlier decision by Justice Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja which overruled the no-case submissions of the defendants and ordered them to enter their defence.

The EFCC, in the 37-count charge, among others, accused Lamido of abusing his position as governor between 2007 and 2015.

He was alleged to have laundered sums of money received as kickbacks from companies that were awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government under his leadership.

The other defendants charged alongside Lamido are: his two sons – Aminu and Mustapha; Aminu Wada Abubakar and their companies – Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.

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