The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, refused to grant an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to inspect the money seized from the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed dismissed the request on the grounds that the application lacked merit.
The judge noted that though it was the duty of the court to visit the scene of an event (locus in quo) where there was controversy to clear the doubt if there was any, such decision was at the discretion of the court.
“I find the visit to locus in quo as unnecessary, and the application is hereby refused,” he said.
Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter until March 10 for the continuation of cross-examination of the defendant by the prosecution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, on Jan. 14, 2020, urged the court to visit the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kano branch, to inspect the 9, 772, 800 dollars (9.7 million dollars) and 74, 000 pounds allegedly recovered from Yakubu’s residence in Kaduna.
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Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Mohammed Abubakar, while moving a motion filed on Nov. 17, 2020, also urged the court to conduct proceedings in the premises of the bank during the inspection of the money.
Abubakar said the money formed the subject of counts three and four in the money laundering charge on which Yabuku is being tried before the court.
The lawyer said the EFCC kept the money in the custody of the CBN, Kano branch, after its operatives allegedly recovered it from Yakubu’s house.
But Ahmed Raji, SAN, counsel to Yakubu, while arguing his counter affidavit, urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s request.
Raji averred that the condition of the cash could have been altered by the complainant and that his client would be “prejudiced” if the EFCC application was granted.
He, however, submitted that a visit to the CBN was purely at the discretion of the court.
NAN reports that the anti-corruption agency, acting on a tip-off, on Feb. 3, 2017, raided the house of Yakubu in Kaduna State and found 9, 772, 800 dollars (9.7 million dollars) and 74, 000 pounds in a safe.
Yakubu was, on March 16, 2017, arraigned on six counts but was ordered by the Court of Appeal to defend counts three and four which bordered on failure to make full disclosure of assets, receiving cash without going through a financial institution. (NAN)