THE arraignment of the immediate past Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Emeka Mba, was Tuesday stalled due to the absence of counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court.
When the case was called, the prosecution counsel, Salisu Majidadi, was not in court nor was the anti-graft agency represented in court by another counsel.
Counsel to the first defendant, Sunday Ameh (SAN), said he was never informed nor communicated to why EFCC was not represented in court.
The former Director General of the NBC, Emeka Mba, Patrick Are, Basil Udotai and Babatunji Amu who are 1st to 4th defendants respectively are being prosecuted on a 15 count amended charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of public funds to a tune of N2.9 billion.
Ameh said he would have asked the court to strike out the case if the defendant was already arraigned, adding that, “We are surprise that they are not in court, we are also not aware of reason of their absence.”
All the three counsels for the other defendants aligned themselves with Ameh’s submission.
The trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in his ruling, held that, “in view of the situation, the matter was adjourned to January 24, 2017, for arraignment.”
The defendants were accused of abusing the procurement process as the anti-graft commission alleged that a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, theft, abuse of office and official corruption has been established against the suspects.
The amended charge read in part: “That you Emeka Mba (while being the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission), Patrick Are (while being the Director of Finance and Account of the National Broadcasting Commission), Basil Udotai (trading in the name and style of Technology Advisors) and Babatunji Amure (trading in the name and style of Divine Partners) on or about the 15th day of August, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: laundering the sum of N2, 899, 723, 500.00 (two billion eight hundred and ninety-nine million, seven hundred and three thousand, five hundred naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act,” among others.