A Jos High Court has ordered Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Managing Director, Solid Unit Nigeria Ltd, to appear before it “dead or alive”, to answer charges bordering on conspiracy.
The charges were brought against Adamu by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
The EFCC had dragged Adamu before Justice Yakubu Dakwak to answer a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining N23,431,000 using fraudulent means.
The accused was said to have collected the sum from Olajide Olaleye, Managing Director, TTMW Services Nigeria Ltd, for the supply of Iron Ore and Zinc Ore, but allegedly became evasive after receiving the money.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Justice Daniel Longji of State High Court V, who is currently handling the matter, was furious that the accused had refused to show up in court since hearing started in February 2017.
Olaleye said: “The accused has consistently sent his brother with a medical report obtained in May 2017, indicating that he was sick and hospitalized.
“If the accused was hospitalized for an ailment between May 23–29, 2017, it goes to show that he is presently not on admission and should have been in court by now.
“I will tolerate this for today only. This court is among those chosen to handle all EFCC cases and we are expected to give them accelerated hearing.
“This medical report is not an excuse. I hereby order that the accused must be brought to court by his sureties on the next date of hearing of this case or face imprisonment.’’
Counsel to Adamu had told the court that his client was seriously ill and could not come to court.
Zi said: “My client could not come to court because he is ill; he has sent his brother with a medical report pleading with the court to be excused.”
Zi pledged to ensure that the accused was brought to court once his health improved, and applied for an adjournment to enable the court make out time to hear his motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain a case brought by the EFCC.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCC Counsel, Benjamin Manji, however 0objected to the application excusing the accused via a medical report.
Manji said: “For the past one year, my Lord, that has been the trend. There are so many of such medical reports.
“The Law says an accused must be in court at his own trial, but this accused is always using one medical report or the other as excuses.
“Although, I do not object to the application seeking for adjournment, I just want Your Lordship to give a definite order compelling the accused to appear in our next date of hearing so that we can make a head way.
“We need this hard stance because I foresee more medical reports if the court does not stop this trend.’’
Justice Longj, after listening to both lawyers, adjourned the case to February 5, 2018 for the continuation of hearing, and ordered that the accused must appear physically on the said date or face imprisonment.
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