Equipment in the Armed Forces, Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (Rtd), due to
ill health.The EFCC arraigned Mohammed on an amended five-count charge bordering on
money laundering, illegal possession of firearms, and possession of
official documents without lawful authority in 2016.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date after Mohammed’s counsel, Hassan
Liman, SAN, told the court that his client had a surgery and couldn’t
sit down now.
Earlier, EFCC lead prosecution lawyer, Daniel Bwala, told the court that
although he was ready for trial, but Mohammed absent.
Bwala added that the defence served him with a letter, claiming the
first defendant (Mohammed) was ill.
“On the last date, the court gave us four days to open and close our
case. The first defendant’s lawyer has brought a letter from the
hospital that the first defendant was sick.
“The case has been in the court for about four years, but the trial has
not commenced,” Bwala said.
When asked why his client was not in court, Mohammed’s lawyer, Liman,
said the first defendant had surgery “and cannot even sit down now.”
Liman prayed the court for a month’s adjournment, hoping that his client
would, by then, be strong enough to stand trial.
Bwala did not object to Liman’s application for adjournment, following
which Justice Ekwo adjourned till Dec. 7 for the prosecution to commence
trial.(NAN)