NAN-H-35
Conspiracy
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Magistrate Court, sitting at Kings Road, Sabogari, Zaria on Tuesday adjourned a case of N26 million registration fees scandal in Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria to Oct. 25 for definite hearing.
The case is between the Commissioner of Police and six others comprising Emanuel Toyin, Mu’azu Rufa’i, Bello Hassan, Bashir Lawal, Ahmed Yusuf and Shittu Toyin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the case involved N26 million registration fees paid by 1,128 students into the Federal College of Education account but is yet to be credited into the college TSA account.
The prosecutor, Nasiru Suleiman had earlier told the court that it was a case of criminal conspiracy.
He said the Bursar of the institute one Mohammed Sani-Uwais and the IPO, Insp. Ruwaya had been summoned as first and second witnesses respectively.
Suleiman, however, said that the first witness had travelled to Abuja for budget defense, while the second witness took his wife to hospital who was put to bed for labour.
He said in the interest of justice, “we appeal for adjournment to enable us serve the witnesses again.”
Counsel to the first accused, Friday Ekeke objected to the application for adjournment.
He argued othat: “At the last sitting, the prosecutor took today’s date with all certainty that the said bursar will be present in the court.
“We all obliged to him, only for the prosecutor to come today. Every responsible citizen is duty bound to court”
Ekeke asked the court not to grant the application and free the first accused, saying, “but in the alternative, if the court feels it will grant the adjournment, let it be the last and adjourn it to a definite hearing.”
Similarly, counsels to second and third accused persons, Yahaya Aliyu and Isiyaku Sabo pleaded for a definite hearing.
The Chief Magistrate, Benjamin Hassan, adjourned the case to Oct. 25 for definite hearing.(NAN)
KLM/YMU/MTM
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Controlled by Tukur Muntari.