Pension fraud: Judge threatens to strike out suit

A Federal High Cort Judge, Justice Adamu Bello, on Tuesday threatened to strike out the pension fraud suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for lack of diligent prosecution.

The Judge gave the warning when no lawyer came to represent the anti-graft agency in the alleged N4.56 billion fraud slammed against a former Director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to Shuaibu, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN) begged the court to strike out the charge.

According to him, the charge was filed on October 17, 2011 and the accused was arraigned April 3, 2012.

He also told the court that the prosecution could not claim ignorance about the sitting because he was in court when the case was adjourned on July 19, 2012.

“The prosecution had been present in court up till July 19, 2012 and the case was adjourned to November 14, 2012 before the court later adjourned till today (Tuesday) at the instance of the prosecution.

“In a matter that is not coming up before the court for the very first time. Matter for which parties have taken part in previous proceedings and particularly, in a criminal trial, it is the responsibility of the prosecution to know when the case is coming up.

“Even if the case was not properly adjourned, it is the responsibility of parties to find out hearing date. The prosecution should have taken steps to find out about the adjourned date of the case”, Ameh argued.

-- The Nation