Mr Viral
Justice A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the trial of Polycarp Andrew, a dismissed staff member of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), until December 11 for hearing.
Justice Bello adjourned the case on Wednesday.
At the opening of the trial, EFCC’s counsel, H.M. Mohammed, informed the court of his readiness to present two witnesses, comprising an officer of the EFCC and an official from Opay bank.
Defence counsel, D. B. Kwajafa, upon announcing his appearance, informed the court that he was not ready for trial.
He pleaded that he had been recently served with a flash drive containing the video recording of the defendant’s extra-judicial statement when he was arrested.
He argued that the defendant was entitled to a fair hearing and adequate time to prepare for his defence.
He therefore sought an adjournment to study the statement.
Mohammed, in countering Kwajafa’s application for adjournment, told the court that the flash drive in question was not relevant at this time of the hearing of the case.
After listening to both counsels, the judge adjourned the case .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Andrew was arraigned on May 5 on six-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Andrew was arrested in Taraba after allegedly stealing over N22 million from the exhibit of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, while serving as the exhibit keeper of the Directorate.
He absconded after investigations flagged him as the alleged stealer.
The offence is punishable under the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.
Vanguard News
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings