News

Judge Fumes Over EFCC False Publication, Threatens To Dismiss Shehu Sani Bribery Case

Published

4 years ago

Mar 16, 2021.

EFCC, Sokoto Man Bags 10-Year Jail Term For Posing As US Army General

Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court has lashed out at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over distorted reports being churned out on social media by the commission regarding the bribery suit instituted against Shehu Sani, a former senator.

A.A Ibrahim, Sani’s counsel, had on Tuesday during proceedings, drew the court’s attention to a publication by the EFCC on its Twitter page.

Ibrahim said the publication contained distorted and misleading accounts of what actually transpired in court.

Responding, the judge expressed disgust at the anti-graft agency’s behaviour, saying public opinion cannot determine what the outcome of a court case will be, adding that the court has the final say on the matter and “not the court of public opinion.”

“From the beginning of this case, I have said the record of this case are public records and it can be obtained by anybody including the media,” the judge said.

Addressing the prosecution counsel, the judge warned that there will be repercussions if the proceeding of the court is willfully distorted again, adding that he would not hesitate to strike out the case.

“I don’t want to hear about distorted publications again,” he said.

“If I hear about it again, I’m going to throw away your case and you can take it to whoever you like.”

Afterwards, Bako Aliyu, the 10th prosecution witness, concluded his testimony..

By the same token, the Judge questioned the EFCC frequent change of prosecution counsels, noting that it was the third time the anti-graft agency changed its counsels since the beginning of the case.

Justice Ekwo’s comment was as a result of another counsel who stood in for EFCC on Tuesday at the continued hearing different from a defence counsel who prosecuted the case on Monday, 15th March, 2021.

Ekohotblog gathered that Ekele Iheanacho prosecuted the case on behalf of EFCC on Monday, while, one Barrister Mshelia introduced himself as the counsel to the EFCC on Tuesday, a situation that disrupts with meticulous prosecution of cases.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s prosecution witness (10 PW10), Bako Aliyu was cross-examined on the evidences he had previously tendered by the defence counsel, A.A. Ibrahim.

Having listened to the cross-examination which lasted for 20 minutes, the presiding judge adjourned the matter till 24th and 25th of May, 2021.