An Ilorin High Court on Tuesday dismissed the application brought by the former General Manager of Kwara State Television Authority, Abdulfatai Adebowale.
The defendant had prayed the court to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce the reports of the sale of Kwara State Government’s properties from the year 1999 to 2020.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Ilorin Zonal Office of EFCC had on Nov. 6, 2019, arraigned Adebowale before the court on a six-count charge bordering on land fraud and obtaining money under false pretence.
Count three of the charge stated that: “You, Abdulfatai Adewale Adebowale being a public officer, as the General Manager of Kwara State Television Authority, sometime between May and June 2015, used your office to confer a corrupt advantage upon yourself.
“When you received a cash deposit of the sum of N2,350,000 through your Stanbic IBTC Bank account number 0007306612 from one Sulyman Abdulkareem.
“Being proceeds from the sale of land allocated to a staff of Kwara State Television.
“Thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Ruling on the application on Tuesday, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye said: “I sympathise with the applicant, but the law is not about sympathy.
“In the final analysis of this application, this honourable court holds the view that the application fails, lacks merit and accordingly dismissed.
“The need for the applicant to prove to this honourable court the reports about the sale of Kwara State Government properties from 1999 till date was in the custody of EFCC is very high.
“The appropriate authority to apply for this document is the Kwara State Government who set up the panel to investigate the sale of Kwara State Government’s properties.”
The Judge stated further that “what the applicant asked for is forbidden, it is in serious violation with the provisions of the evidence act.
“The prosecution has demonstrated that all the needed documents, in this case, have been attached to the charge, this position has not been challenged or controverted by the applicant.”
Justice Oyinloye after dismissing the application fixed March 4, for a continuation of trial.