The trial of Dr Nkereuwem Sunday Etukudo, Provost, Federal
School of Medical Laboratory Technology, FSMLT, Jos by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Y.G. Dakwak of the Plateau State
High Court today, Friday 27, 2017 suffered yet another setback when counsel to
one of the defendants presented an application challenging the jurisdiction of
the court to hear the matter.
Etukudo is being prosecuted alongside Mr Yusuf Samuel,
Accountant, FSMLT; Mr Ernest Demtoe, Secretary of Tenders Board, FSMLT; Mr
Goodluck Echewa, and Hon. Esio Udoh, both contractors of FSMLT on a 15-count
charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of funds to the tune of over
N359m.
At resumed proceedings today, Solomon Umoh, SAN, counsel to 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants complained he had written to the EFCC requesting for certain documents with which he was to cross-examine the first prosecution witness, but the documents were not made available.
At resumed proceedings today, Solomon Umoh, SAN, counsel to 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants complained he had written to the EFCC requesting for certain documents with which he was to cross-examine the first prosecution witness, but the documents were not made available.
In his response, counsel to the prosecution, Samuel Okeleke
stated that the EFCC had already given the defense counsel copies of all
documents which they requested for but were not in the proof of evidence.
He said,"We usually come to court with original copies
of all documents in our proof of evidence. We have pointed out that if there is
any document they require, they should point it out and we ll give it to them
in the courtroom.
"He requested that we should produce the first accused
person's international passport for use in cross-examining our witness. I told
the counsel that came to our office that I'll ensure that the passport is
brought to court for that purpose. The documents are in court right now."
At this point, A.M. Okwori, counsel to the second defendant,
submitted an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the
matter, to the chagrin of the prosecution.
Based on the application, Justice Dakwak adjourned the
matter to February 21, 2017 for consideration of the application.
It would be recalled that at the last adjourned date in November 2016, the prosecution had presented its first witness, one Ethel Ekan, a lecturer and hostel supervisor at FSMLT, who had given testimony to the effect that the first accused persons had severally awarded contracts which were unfulfilled, including the procurement of laboratory reagents and diesel to fuel the school's generators. The PW1 had also explained to the court that she and six others had been nominated for international study tours on two occasions but later discovered that although the funds had been approved and released to the provost for the same, none of the officers were ever informed of the existence of such opportunities.
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