The trial of Abdulsalam Saleh Abdulkarim also known as AA Zaura before Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court could not proceed on today, May 2, due to an application filed by the defendant asking for a stay of proceedings.
Zaura was arraigned by the EFCC on March 1, 2023, for allegedly defrauding a Kuwaiti citizen to the tune of $1.32 million under the guise that he was into real estate business in Dubai and other countries.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to today for the commencement of trial.
But while the case was pending, Zaura filed an application for stay of proceedings and served the prosecution, which responded with a counter affidavit, that by virtue of section 360 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA and section 40 of the EFCC Act, the court cannot entertain a no stay of proceedings in criminal trial.
When the matter came up today, counsel to the defendant, M. I Dikko SAN, informed the court that he had filed a further and better affidavit in support of the motion for stay of proceedings.
Justice Yunusa adjourned the matter till May 31, and June 1, 2023 for hearing of the application.